The Ipsos-BVA "Mental Health & QWL 2026" barometer for Qualisocial highlights a persistent gap between women and men regarding mental health in the workplace. According to this survey, conducted in November among 3,000 employees, 25% of women report poor mental health, compared to 19% of men, despite an overall improvement compared to 2025.
While 74% of women currently consider themselves to be in good mental health, they remain proportionally more vulnerable, especially those under 40: 29% of them say they are "doing rather poorly," compared to 22% of older women. The study emphasizes that this vulnerability is concentrated among younger female employees.
The causes cited by women are primarily related to their personal lives: lack of time for themselves (44% compared to 35% of men) and family difficulties (32% compared to 28%). They are less likely to attribute their distress to the national political context. The barometer also highlights the mental workload and the difficulty of balancing work and personal life, as well as a more critical perspective than that of men on workplace relationships, inclusion, and gender equality.
This new publication confirms that mental health and quality of life at work remain a major issue, marked by persistent gender disparities.
Anthony Bourdain
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