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40% of Jobseekers Get Sick with Stress

Four out of 10 people who are looking for jobs suffer so much stress and anxiety that it makes them ill, according to a survey.

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Job search portal Saramin polled 763 jobseekers in June, and 39.2 percent said their health suffered as they searched for work. Most of them experienced depression or insomnia, and many felt constantly tired, experienced indigestion and became afraid to meet other people.

Psychological problems were more common than physical symptoms.

Asked why they thought their health suffered, 82.9 percent cited stress, 46.8 percent blamed a lack of exercise, 44.8 percent said lack of sleep and 43.8 percent irregular eating patterns. Respondents were allowed to give multiple answers.

The main side effects of deteriorating health for jobseekers were inability to focus, weakened desire to look for work and changing goals due to a lack of confidence.

Respondents said mental problems were more difficult to endure than physical ailments. "The family and friends of jobseekers should care for them and cheer them on", a Saramin staffer said.

In another Saramin poll last month of 1,392 jobseekers, 77.4 percent said their self-confidence took a knock as they searched for work.

And 60.3 percent were anxious that their self-confidence would take a permanent hit if they could not land the job they set their hearts on, either because they would disappoint others, or because that would mean they are fit for nothing better, or because they could end up poor.

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