In some workplaces, it’s common for employees to gather for drinks at the end of the day to unwind, socialize and, for some workers, relieve stress.
However, researchers at the University of Chicago suggest that self-medicating with alcohol is not only an ineffective way to reduce workplace stress, but can also lead to dependence.
Authors of the study noted that stress takes several physiological tolls on the body, including increased heart rate, production of the hormone cortisol and prolonged tension or anxiety. To test how alcohol affects these factors, scientists administered either alcohol or a placebo to participants at different intervals after they finished a public speaking task.
“We showed that alcohol decreases the hormonal response to the stress, but also extends the negative subjective experience of the event. We also showed that stress decreased the pleasant effects of the alcohol. These findings illustrate a complex bi-directional interactions between stress and alcohol,” said co-author Emma Childs.
The findings suggest that employee wellness programs that provide tools and resources for stress management may offer a healthy way to influence staff members’ reaction to workplace stress.
