Study Reveals Impact of Stress on Worker Productivity

A recent study by Cigna International Health, involving over 10,000 respondents in Kenya and several global markets, found that 84% of Kenyan workers report high levels of stress, with financial concerns and the rising cost of living being major contributors.
Nairobi Wire
This high stress correlates with reduced well‑being and is already being linked to lower productivity on the job.In more in-depth research specific to disciplined services in Kenya, a study among NYS (National Youth Service) employees revealed that work stress significantly undermines service delivery and efficiency.
About half of the staff reported excessive work pressure, and many said their concentration and creativity suffered, which in turn negatively impacted overall performance.
The same research pointed to several sources of stress: poorly defined roles, excessive workloads, harassment from supervisors, and lack of adequate resources.
On the flip side, employees who felt more control over their job and had clarity in their tasks reported higher creativity and better job performance.
reviewedjournals.com
These findings suggest that stress isn’t just a personal issue—it’s closely tied to how work is
Experts recommend that organizations tackle stress at its roots by improving management practices, increasing job control, and investing in stress-management support.
IAR Consortium
For the Kenyan public sector in particular, this could mean crafting policies that reduce overload and provide clearer job definitions as part of broader efforts to boost productivity and employee well‑being.