A Study on Psychological Distress, Role Overload, and Work-Social Impairment among Working Adults

Abstract

Background: The demands of modern work environments often exert a hidden toll on employees. Traditional assessments frequently look for overt psychological symptoms, which may fail to capture the true impact of occupational stress. The primary aim of this study was to assess whether the adverse effects of excessive workload (role overload) are more evident through functional life impairment than through classic psychological distress. Method: A quantitative, cross-sectional design was utilized, analyzing a sample of 32 working adults aged 22- 40 years old. Data were collected via standardized self-report measures: the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) to assess psychological distress, the Reilly Role Overload Scale to evaluate excessive work demands, and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) to measure functional life impairment. Results: Correlation analyses revealed a highly significant positive relationship between role overload and work-social impairment (r=0.674, p<.001). However, role overload demonstrated no significant relationship with any of the psychological distress sub- dimensions (depression, anxiety, or stress). Furthermore, participants reported high mean levels of functional impairment (WSAS Mean = 20.8) despite relatively low mean scores in psychological distress. Conclusion: The findings confirm that the burden of role overload is far more evident in how it impairs daily life and social functioning than in self-reported psychological distress. Employees may psychologically endure excessive work demands without immediate symptoms of depression or anxiety, but the cost of this endurance is severe disruption to their home management,  leisure, and social lives. Functional impairment serves as a much more sensitive and evident barometer of occupational stress than traditional distress measures.