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What are the statistics for anxiety and hairdressers
Hi there! Thank you for your question regarding the statistics for anxiety and hairdressers. The short version is that it is likely that 1 in every 5 hairdresser is likely to experience an anxiety disorder in any given year. That means that, out of the 707,000 hairdressers/hairstylists reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 141,400 will experience some form of anxiety. Given that women dominate the profession (94.2%), it is more likely that the disorders experienced are generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or a specific phobia--women are twice as likely as men to experience those anxiety disorders. Below is a deep dive into my research and methodology.
METHODOLOGY
To answer your question, I began by conducting various searches for research articles on the combined topics of anxiety, depression, and hairdressers/hairstylists. These searches resulted in nil. I expanded my search to focus on popular articles and other media, which led to quite a number of interesting articles, forum posts, YouTube videos, and research articles from South America and Europe, as well as one from Canada (although it is dated). What I could not find, however, were any definitive statistics about anxiety and hairdressers.
Still, I believe that, based upon the data that I have found, it is possible to infer the likely statistics for this specific population. Below, I have shared with you the data found and explained how I arrived at my statistics. The information is divided into following sections:
A) THE IMPORTANT FIGURES - Actual data/statistics
B) FACTORS THAT LEAD TO ANXIETY
C) FACTORS THAT LEAD TO BURNOUT
D) WORK CHALLENGES FOR HAIRDRESSERS
E) EXPLORING THE STATISTICS & ANSWERS
F) ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
G) CONCLUSION
To immediately find my final response, please, go to Section E (Exploring the Statistics & Answers). Otherwise, each section will provide you with
A) THE IMPORTANT FIGURES
Based upon data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are approximately 707,000 people employed as hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists. Moreover 94.2% of people within these professions are women. DataUSA has a somewhat lower number of 587,201, The average of people within this group is 38.9 and the average wage is $21,934.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness states that, in any given year, 1 in 5 adults in the US (43.8 million or 18.5%) suffers mental illness, 10 million (1 in 25) will suffer serious mental illness that will impact their daily lives. The Alliance notes that 18.1% of adults (approximately 1 in 5) in the US will experience an anxiety disorder.
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America states that there are approximately 40 million Americans who are affected by anxiety disorders. In fact anxiety disorders are the most common mental health illnesses in the US. Also, women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed (affected) with an anxiety disorder. Although these disorders affect many, only one-third of those who suffer from anxiety receive treatment.
Anxiety disorders include the following diagnoses and co-morbid diagnoses (diagnoses that are often diagnosed alongside an anxiety disorder):
1. Generalized anxiety disorder,
2. Panic disorder,
3. Obsessive-compulsive disorder,
4. Social anxiety disorder, and
5. Specific phobias, as well as co-morbid diagnoses
6. Post-traumatic stress disorder,
7. Major depressive disorder,
8. Persistent depressive disorder (PDD, formerly known as dysthymia),
B) FACTORS THAT LEAD ANXIETY
- Work-related stress
- School-related stress
- Interpersonal-related stress (marriage, family, etc.)
- Health-related stress
- Medication-related side effect
- Drug-related side effect
- By-product of illness
- Environment-related factors (such as lack of oxygen)
C) FACTORS THAT LEAD TO BURNOUT
In a 2016 Frontiers in Psychology research article, the authors stated that "the feeling of depletion due to effort spent at work is generally regarded as the most distinctive feature of the burnout syndrome and appears to overlap considerably with the concept of fatigue." Thus, people who are suffering from burnout often report the following:
- Reduction in job satisfaction
- Physical/health complaints
- Increased levels of fatigue
- Increased incidents of insomnia/sleep disturbances
- Decreased cognitive performance.
Perhaps the most important aspect of this article is that it shows that anxiety and depression are features of people who have been diagnosed with burnout syndrome.
D) WORK CHALLENGES FOR HAIRDRESSERS
Based upon the information that I have covered, there are various challenges that hairdressers face that seem to make them more susceptible to burnout and thus to anxiety and depression. For example, a LifeHack article outline the following challenges for hairdressers:
- Educational expense
- Ongoing training
- Standing all day
- Having to maintain positive interpersonal interactions
- Working long hours
- Increased chances of injury
- Decreased opportunities to express creativity
- A physically draining job
- Finding a job
- Having to work for many years to earn a decent living
A Salon Magazine (Canadian edition) article notes that salon professionals have to play many roles, including being a pseudo-therapist who has to lend a compassionate ear to their clients. Unlike mental health professionals, however salon professionals are not trained to deal with compassion fatigue, which can lead to burnout. The symptoms of compassion fatigue outlined in the article are:
- Irritability and/or feeling emotionally numb
- Desiring to leave work early or start work late on almost daily basis
- Decrease in productivity
- Feeling elated when there is a cancellation or it's a slow day
- Desiring to change your life completely
- Increased episodes of insomnia
- Anhedonia (loss of enjoyment)
- Feeling unappreciated/unrecognized/unimportant
- Increased use of substances to cope (drugs, alcohol, food)
A 2012 Canadian study revealed that a supportive work environment was vital to avoid/diminish feelings of burnout, especially given the demanding interpersonal nature of the job. A HealthDay.com article notes, too, that hairdressers have to deal with the stressful impact of their work on their physical health (and emotional and mental health). The article states that "hair stylists still have at least three major complaints about their work: they suffer from back and leg problems, hand and arm stress, and allergic reactions to the chemicals they use in the salon."
Although not a study on the US, a 2015 study on hairdressers in Brazil noted that "the results revealed that better physical and mental health are associated with greater work ability representing that, the better the worker’s health, the greater his work ability." A 2014 European report noted that hairdressers are exposed to occupational diseases, especially skin diseases and musculo-skeletal disorders, and it is vital for them to work in environments that promote their well-being.
E) EXPLORING THE STATISTICS & ANSWERS
Considering all of the information above, I have come to the following conclusions:
- Given that the hairdresser profession is dominated by females (94.2%), it is likely that anxiety disorders will be prevalent within this population, particularly general anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and specific phobias, because women are more often affected by anxiety disorders than men.
- Given that 18.1% (approximately 1 in 5) of adults in the US are likely to experience anxiety disorders each year, this means that there may be as many as 141,400 (1 in 5 of 707,000) hairdressers/hairstylists/cosmetologists may suffer from anxiety disorders.
- It is likely that the anxiety and depression experienced are features of burnout or may be their own separate diagnoses or co-morbid diagnoses.
- The physical (internal and external), emotional, and mental stress of the job predisposes hairdressers to suffering burnout and thus anxiety and depression.
- Burnout can also be triggered by compassion fatigue, limited financial gains, minimal work support, and poor health.
- There are very few recent studies done to address this topic in the US. Other countries, however, are making some strides in recognizing the need for fostering wellness in the profession.
- There are many anecdotes from hairdressers suffering from anxiety that can be found on the web. I have shared these in the next section.
F) ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Hopefully these additional resources will be useful for you. Throughout my research, I came across a number of forum posts and a YouTube videos by hairdressers who are dealing with anxiety and who are seeking support.
- Google Books | "So This is What it Feels Like" (includes section with hairdresser who struggles with anxiety)
CONCLUSION
To wrap it up, although I did not find any definitive research on the topic of hairdressers and anxiety in the US, I believe that based upon the statistics that are known for both topics, it is possible to infer that at least 1 in every 5 hairdressers is likely to suffer an anxiety disorder in any given year. At a maximum, that number could reach 141,400 hairdressers/hairstylists/cosmetologists. What we do know about hairdressers with anxiety is that some have chosen to reach out online to fellow hairdressers for support. Thanks for using Wonder! Please, let us know if we can help with anything else!