“Bragging” due to work stress can affect your relationship with your coworkers

A new study by the University of Georgia (UGA) has revealed that constantly bragging about how overwhelmed you feel at work can have negative effects on the work environment. This phenomenon, called “stress bragging” or “busy bragging,” not only tends to generate resentment among coworkers, but it can also cause the person who practices it to be perceived as less competent in their job.

Jessica Rodell, professor of management in UGA’s Terry College of Business and lead author of the study, shared with UGA Today her reflections on this common behavior in work environments. “We have all witnessed, and have probably been guilty at some point, of talking about how stressed we are. “Initially, I thought this behavior might be a way to show that we are capable of handling large workloads, but we found that it often has the opposite effect,” Rodell explained.

The study was based on a series of experiments in which hundreds of participants were asked to evaluate a fictitious coworker. This fellow was making statements about an imaginary conference, saying things like, “This is just one more thing on my full plate. “I was already stressed to the max… You have no idea the stress I am under.” The results showed that participants found this type of individual less pleasant and less competent compared to a colleague who simply mentioned that work had been stressful, or that he had positive comments about the conference.

Respondents also indicated that they would not be willing to help a coworker who constantly complains. This finding suggests that, rather than gaining sympathy or admiration, stress braggers may be undermining their own reputation and work relationships. Rodell commented that “people are doing themselves a disservice by doing something they think will make them look better to their colleagues.”

Additionally, the study’s authors point out that “stress bragging” perpetuates a harmful notion: that work must be stressful, and that those who don’t appear to be under pressure aren’t working hard enough. Rodell warned of the contagious impact of this behavior. “When someone constantly talks and brags about their stress, it seems like it’s good to be stressed. “This affects close colleagues, who end up feeling more stressed, which can lead to greater burnout or even abandonment of work,” he explained.

The study does not suggest that people should suppress their emotions or avoid talking about their stress. The key difference is in how that stress is communicated. Workers who were perceived as genuinely busy did not generate resentment, according to the research. Rodell suggests that if someone is really feeling overwhelmed, it is important to find an appropriate confidant to share and discuss these feelings. “But you have to keep in mind that it is not a medal of honor to brag about; that will be counterproductive,” she stressed.

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