A study published in the journal Occupation and Environmental Medicine found that employees who work for inconsiderate and incompetent bosses are more likely to develop heart disease, according to the BBC News.
Researchers from the Karolinksa Institute and Stockholm University looked at more than 3,000 employed men between the ages of 19 and 70 over a 10-year period.
During the study, 74 cases of fatal and non-fatal heart attacks or acute angina, or death from ischemic heart disease occurred.
The study participants were asked to rate their bosses’ leadership style and those who felt their bosses were the least competent had a 25 percent higher risk of a serious heart problem.
The men who worked for these bosses for a “long time,” four years or longer, saw their risk of heart disease increase 64 percent.
Researchers said these findings were true despite lifestyle factors such as smoking and exercise, the amount of work a man had, and previous risk factors such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
The study also suggests that employees who feel unappreciated are more likely to adopt unhealthy behaviors.
“Feeling undervalued and unsupported can cause stress, which often leads to unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, eating a poor diet, drinking too much alcohol and not getting enough exercise – adding to your risk of developing heart problems,” said Cathy Ross, a cardiac nurse for the British Heart Foundation.
Click here to read more from BBC News.
Click here to read the study in Occupation and Environmental Medicine (subscription required).
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