Stress takes toll on women lawyers

FEMALE lawyers are more likely to suffer work-related stress and turn to the bottle than their male colleagues, a study claims.

Researchers found women are also more likely to consider leaving the legal profession due to burnout.

Their findings show work-related factors impact the high rates of stress, risky drinking, and attrition in lawyers differently depending on gender.

More than half of women lawyers (56 per cent) engaged in “risky” drinking habits compared to 46% of male colleagues, while 34% of female lawyers reported high-risk or hazardous boozing compared to 25% of men.

Researchers surveyed members of the California Lawyers Association and the DC Bar to learn about work-related factors that may be predictors of stress, alcohol misuse, and attrition. A total of 2,863 men and women currently working in law responded to the survey.

Study co-author Dr Justin Anker, of the University of Minnesota Medical School, said: “High work over-commitment was associated with stress for both men and women, but the relationship was stronger for women.

“Thirty per cent of respondents screened positive for high-risk hazardous drinking and a significantly greater proportion of women compared to men engaged in risky drinking and high-risk/hazardous drinking.”