RW - foRWard Health & Wellbeing eMag - May 24 - Flipbook - Page 19
Psychosocial Effects
Behavioural Effects
The stress from 昀椀nancial pressures can deeply
a昀昀ect our mental state and social connec琀椀ons.
Cost-of-living pressures can also cause a
number of changes in the way we behave.
The struggle to meet basic needs is closely
linked with increased psychological distress,
including anxiety and depression. This stress
can exacerbate over 琀椀me, poten琀椀ally reducing
work performance and earnings, crea琀椀ng a
vicious cycle of 昀椀nancial strain. It can also
strain rela琀椀onships within the family, impac琀椀ng
everyone's mental health.
For many, these pressures have become a
reason to work longer hours and gain addi琀椀onal
income. Last year, Australians collec琀椀vely
worked 4.6% longer, an extra 86 million hours.
But working longer hours may reduce people’s
overall health, especially among parents of
young children facing greater 琀椀me constraints.
It also leaves less 琀椀me for ac琀椀vi琀椀es that help
to keep people healthy, such as ge琀�ng regular
exercise and cooking healthy meals.