This article was originally published in Deseret News.
Sigmund Freud observed that the goal of psychoanalysis is the transformation of misery into normal unhappiness. Recent findings from the American Psychological Association on American workers suggest that this process may also work in the opposite direction — focusing too much on personal unhappiness can lead to misery.
The APA survey, conducted in early 2024, sampled more than 2,000 workers aged 18 and up. The topline findings were quite positive: 93% of respondents are proud of their work and more than 80% are satisfied with their coworker relationships. However, 59% of workers believe their employer overestimates workplace health, and 39% worry that reporting mental health issues could have negative consequences.
Two-thirds of respondents reported symptoms of “burnout” in the past month, despite the fact that only 36% said they work more than 40 hours a week.
