Wellington, Apr 28 : A new study has revealed that young business owners and managers are more likely to suffer from work-related stress than their older colleagues.

The survey carried out by community well being company WellbeingWorks on 58 Marlborough business owners, managers and self-employed people, showed those aged between 26 and 45 identified four times the amount of stress their older counterparts, aged between 46 and 65, did.

More than 80 percent of respondents were experiencing moderate to high levels of work-related stress, while one-third of those experiencing high stress said they were not affected by it.

It was also revealed that less than one-fifth of females said they felt okay with stress, compared with one-third of males.

The top-five causes of high stress were too much to do, too little time, cash flow, regulations and red tape, and lack of leisure time.

For the younger respondents, a lack of time for leisure and family and friends were bigger stress factors than for the older group.

Half the respondents said work stress was causing headaches, tiredness or sleeping difficulties. Forty percent said they were experiencing impatience and irritability.

In her survey discussion, WellbeingWorks director Julie Ham said the age-group differences might reflect the different life stages, with younger respondents more likely to still be establishing homes and families and less experienced in business.

The groups were also influenced by generational factors, with the generation X and Y members of the younger group having different life experiences from the older group.

"Research on these factors show very different attitudes, expectations and strategies in the workplace between the groups, as well as differences in commitment and job satisfaction and priorities for their work and personal lives," The Marlborough Express quoted Ham as saying.

"The effects of stress can be bad for business, from making mistakes and poor decisions to, at worst, a stroke or heart attack," she said.

"Taking heed of early warning signs can stop the damage of stress," she added. (ANI)