Workers in the UK are more likely than those in any other country to take stress home with them after work, according to new research from leadership and management training provider MTD Training.
The findings are based on an analysis of 19,819 UK responses to MTD Training’s free EQ DNA emotional intelligence assessment. The results show that 30% of respondents struggle to switch off from stress once they have finished work, while just 24% say they rarely worry.
Although 83% of UK participants said they generally recognise when they are feeling stressed, only 42% reported being able to prevent stressful situations or people from continuing to affect them after leaving work. Just under a quarter said they rarely worry about their job or life more generally.
The figures suggest that recognising stress does not necessarily mean being able to manage it. Of those who are aware of their own stress, only 44% can leave it behind at the end of the working day, while one in four say they rarely worry.
Worrying about work and everyday life was the weakest area across the assessment’s 50 statements, with half of respondents disagreeing that they rarely worry.
There were more positive findings around the ability to manage emotions. Some 54% said they could quickly find a different perspective on a difficult situation, while 53% felt able to deliberately change their mood. However, fewer than half (47%) said they could quickly move on from anger without allowing it to affect them.
The EQ DNA assessment measures emotional intelligence across five areas. UK participants achieved their strongest result in Self-Awareness, scoring 81%, while Self-Regulation was the lowest-performing category at 65%.
The gap was also reflected in the results of those who struggle to leave work-related stress behind. This group scored lower across all five areas of emotional intelligence, with an average Self-Regulation score of 56%, compared with 69% among people who can switch off. Their overall emotional intelligence score was also lower, at 68% against 76%.
International comparisons further highlighted the UK’s position. Of the 15 countries with more than 800 assessment responses, the UK recorded the highest proportion of people reporting that stress follows them home, at 30%. The equivalent figures were 28% in both the US and Australia, 24% in India and just 8% in the Philippines.
Sean McPheat, CEO of MTD Training, said: “This data shows that most of us have become good at noticing when we’re stressed. It’s on our minds, we talk about it and we feel it. But what it also shows is that awareness on its own isn’t enough. Recognising stress is step one, but far fewer people have the practical skills to regulate it. That means reframing a bad day, letting frustration go, or switching off when they walk out of the door.
“The good news is that self-regulation can be learned. It isn’t a fixed personality trait. We’d encourage people and employers to move on from simply ‘being aware’ and start building the habits that close that gap.”
McPheat has also outlined five practical ways people can move beyond recognising stress and develop better techniques for managing it:
- Identify the source of stress and change your perspective. “When you notice stress, ask yourself what is actually in your control. Then choose one action you can take.”
- Establish an end-of-day routine. “A short end-of-day routine signals to your brain that work is finished. For example, write tomorrow’s top three priorities, close your laptop or take a short walk.”
- Give yourself time before responding. “Take a few slow breaths before replying to a difficult email or comment. This gives your rational brain time to catch up.”
- Avoid dwelling on frustrating experiences. “If you’re still replaying a frustrating moment hours later, write it down once and decide whether it needs action. If it doesn’t, park it.”
- Encourage open conversations about stress at work. “Managers who talk openly about stress and model healthy boundaries make it easier for their teams to do the same.”
Individuals can assess their own emotional intelligence by completing MTD Training’s free EQ DNA assessment at www.mtdtraining.com/free-eq-test.
