Top Relationship Stress: Work Trumps Family and Friends

According to a survey by data consulting firm PMI involving 1,000 individuals aged 19 to 69 across South Korea via the ‘GS&Panel,’ two-fifths of Korean adults face work-related relationship stress. Specifically, 40.5% reported frequently experiencing such stress over the past three months. The study revealed that people in their thirties were most affected, with 47.7% indicating frequent stress related to workplace interactions.

The highest reported source of stress among individuals in human interactions was from ‘work colleagues or bosses,’ accounting for 41.5%. This was succeeded by ▲’Family’ at 19.2%, ▲’Neighbors and Acquaintances’ at 16.8%, ▲’Friends’ at 10.1%, ▲’Lovers or Spouses’ at 6.6%, and finally ▲’Online Community Members and Social Media Contacts’ at 5.7%. When broken down by age group, participants in their twenties experienced stress across multiple areas including friendships, familial ties, and social media connections besides workplace pressures; conversely, those in their fifties primarily faced significant stressors related to both professional environments and day-to-day encounters with people around them.

The primary sources of stress in interpersonal relations include ▲ ‘difficulty with communication’ (51.6%, multiple selections), ▲ ‘repeated conflicts or unresolved issues’ (46.4%), ▲ ‘the burden associated with time and costs needed to sustain these connections’ (33.4%), ▲ ‘a lack of trust’ (31.4%), ▲ ‘excessive expectations or demands from others’ (31.4%), ▲ ‘feeling isolated or ostracized’ (27.6%), and ▲ ‘discomfort arising from comparisons and competitions’ (23.1%).

The most frequent issues in interpersonal relationships included ▲ ‘being misinterpreted or receiving skewed evaluations’ (38.4%), closely trailed by ▲ ‘infringements on personal time and space’ (29.2%). Next was ▲ ‘having to participate in social engagements like parties and banquets’ (16.0%), then ▲ ‘demands for heightened emotional closeness’ (11.6%), with ▲ ‘pressuring someone into replying via messaging apps or social media platforms’ ranking lowest at 4.9%. Notably, individuals in their twenties found violations of privacy and obligations related to attending social functions particularly stressful, whereas people in their fifties reported higher levels of anxiety regarding how they were perceived by others.

To handle interpersonal disputes, 37.0% of respondents chose ‘You naturally move away from the distance,’ 28.4% opted for ‘I endure alone,’ 16.8% preferred ‘Try to have a direct conversation to resolve it,’ 10.4% selected ‘Seek consultation or advice from others,’ and 7.3% decided on ‘End the relationship.’ In dealing with such situations, the hardest aspect for many was feeling pressured to maintain the relationship at 33.7%, followed by emotional distress at 27.4%. Other significant challenges included confusion about how to proceed at 16.1% and concerns over peripheral gazes or reputational damage at 10.2%.

Regarding how we presently sustain interpersonal connections, the option ‘We aim to keep interactions to a bare minimum’ received the highest percentage with 36.7%. This was closely followed by:
– “I put effort into maintaining them to an extent” (32.6%)
– “My approach isn’t particularly organized” (19.2%)
– “I prefer proactively managing these ties” (11.5%).
When envisioning future approaches towards such relationships:
– The top choice indicated a desire to confine one’s network solely to essential contacts (38.6%).
– Next came those who wished they could lead their lives indifferent to relational dynamics (27.1%);
– Then respondents leaned toward keeping things status quo (23.4%);
– Lastly were individuals keen on expanding their social circles even more (10.8%).
In terms of societal shifts, opinions revealed that the strongest sentiment viewed bold attempts at pruning superfluous bonds had grown increasingly prevalent (39.5%). Other responses included:
– A diversification in what people consider appropriate within personal networks (35.2%);
– Uncertainty regarding changes observed so far (14.7%),
– And finally, a persistent belief in valuing every single connection equally remains significant (10.6%).

A representative from PAMI Co., Ltd. stated, “This survey reveals that many individuals suffer from emotional burnout across different social connections.” They further noted, “There has been an increasing inclination to view interpersonal relationships as elements for selection and management rather than matters of upkeep.”