PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS IN MIDDLE-AGED AND AGED EXECUTIVES

Neurotic symptoms were considered to be present in 21.9% of the 210 em ployees of a company following data analysis from a General Health Que stionnaire (GHQ, 60 question items). The results in middle-aged and ag ed executives were compared. The total GHQ score was greater than or e qual to 17 in 18/55 executives aged 40 years or above, but in only 9/6 0 non-executives controls was a significant difference observed (P < 0 .05) between executives and non-executives. The scores for three subor dinate scales, namely somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, and soci al dysfunction, were higher in the executives than ill the non-executi ves and showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the anxiety and insomnia scale. These results suggest that middle-aged and aged execut ives are more likely to have neurotic symptoms and more frequently to have anxiety and insomnia than their controls. We would like to apply this method to aid in the prevention, early detection and early manage ment of stress.