Opinion Survey on White-collars' Mental Well-being at WorkBack

Date of Release : 11 August 2003

More than 90% of Hong Kong White-collars Experience Mental Drain at Work,
Survey Finds

Very few know what to do to boost mental performance

HONG KONG, 11 August 2003 More than 90% of the white-collars in Hong Kong interviewed experience mental tiredness at work, however, only a few know how to boost mental performance, according to a survey commissioned by Lucozade Energy.

Long working hours is a common phenomenon in Hong Kong nowadays and it is not unusual that most white-collars experience mental tiredness at work. Combined with the tough economic environment, which poses greater challenges to job security, the increased stress only worsens their mental drain. In an effort to find out how white-collars manage mental tiredness at work, Lucozade Energy commissioned the Public Opinion Programme (POP) of the University of Hong Kong to conduct a survey examining the state of white-collars' mental well being at work in Hong Kong.

In July 2003, a total of 515 white-collars aged between 18 and 35 years were interviewed by telephone. Respondents were mostly clerks (40%), professionals (33%), and service workers (17%). Besides, they were mostly graduates of secondary (55%) and tertiary (44%) institutions.

White-collars' overall knowledge of the energy-boosting properties of glucose was far from satisfactory. Less than 5% of the respondents knew that glucose is one of the substances essential for maintaining normal mental energy, while over 50% had no clue whatsoever about the functions of glucose. The misconception of glucose as nutritional supplements for hospitalized patients (3%) still existed.

The local survey found that a landslide majority of respondents (93%) experienced mental tiredness at work, of whom 79% felt a negative impact on their work performance. Such tiredness occurred most frequently in the afternoon or right after lunch (48%), and over half (54%) of these respondents claimed their mental tiredness usually lasted for 1 hour or less, with 30 minutes being the median.

"It is interesting to note that an overwhelming percentage of respondents experienced mental tiredness in the afternoon. What is more alarming is that very few of Hong Kong's white-collars know what to do to boost their mental energy and consequentially their work performance," said Dr Robert Chung Ting-Yiu, Programme Director of the Public Opinion Programme, University of Hong Kong.

Similar study was conducted in the UK by a research company which was commissioned by GSK, the owning company of Lucozade Energy, in April 2003. When compared with the two studies, majority of the interviewed white-collars in Hong Kong (93%) experienced mental tiredness; whereas, fewer people had this experience in the UK (39%). The survey also showed that a quarter of the respondents in the UK had no idea where the brain get its fuel from; and the number is even higher in Hong Kong, where more than 50% of them failed to have any idea when functions of glucose were directly asked.

During periods of mental slumps, half of these respondents felt sleepy (50%). Other common symptoms included difficulty in concentrating (22%), headaches or drowsiness (17%), and muscle pain (15%).

"The lack of mental energy could be a major factor behind these symptoms," said Ms June Chan, Registered Dietitian.

To boost mental energy in times of mental slumps at work, the survey revealed that almost half of the respondents concerned (47%) chose to have a drink. Other answers included taking a walk outside the office (34%), washing the face (17%), taking a nap (15%) and having snacks (13%). The survey also found that most respondents (22%) preferred to have a drink to further enhance their mental energy even when they were not experiencing mental tiredness at work, which is easy and convenient for the white-collars.

White-collars often sit at their desks working for most of the day. Working continuously for around eight hours a day without breaks can use up one's mental energy easily. To recharge themselves at work, most respondents chose to consume snacks (65%) and drinks (81%), which were deemed as the most convenient. As for the choices of snacks, the most common answers were biscuits, candies, chewing gum and chocolate. As for drinks, tea topped the list with 47%, with the other two popular drinks- water (36%) and coffee (33%) trailing behind.

Dr Chung added, "Among all the answers to the substances essential for maintaining mental energy given by the respondents, caffeine topped the list with 43% mentioning it. Very few named glucose (4%) and carbohydrates (2%) as the substances for boosting the mental energy."

"Half of the respondents did not know that our brain runs on glucose. Glucose helps maintain mental energy, which in turn helps to maintain our overall brain or cognitive performance, including short term memory. Although caffeine exists as a stimulant for the brain, it cannot provide any energy for our brain. The average human brain uses about 120gram of glucose every day and relies on a constant supply from the blood.," said June.

June added, "However, it's important to have a balanced diet rather than focusing on one single nutrient. There are many ways to consume glucose from food and drinks. For instance, fruit and juices provide some glucose as well, and most dietary carbohydrates will be digested and absorbed as glucose in our bodies. Other food sources include sweets, glucose candies and glucose drinks."

"The survey sends a clear and important message to Hong Kong's white-collars- that is, they may need to pay more attention to their meal pattern and food choices for maximizing work performance. We hope more people would understand that glucose is the main energy for the brain, without glucose, it is hard to maintain an optimal mental well-being. There are many ways to manage mental fatigue, for example getting a good night sleep, taking regular exercise and having a well-balanced diet," concluded June.

Top Tips to help combat the mental tiredness from the UK study include:

• Taking a break from your work or switching tasks for a time (the average concentration span is about 40 minutes on one task)
• Trying to get enough sleep and making time for relaxation when possible
• Exercising regularly to improve energy levels
• Eating a well balanced diet to make sure your body is getting enough fuel and nutrients to meet all demands on the brain and body during the day
• Drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration

- END -

About Lucozade
Originally developed in 1927 by a pharmacist Mr. MW Hunter, an English pharmacist, Lucozade was made from a unique formula which provides a concentrated, appealing and readily absorbed source of food energy. The drink was subsequently named Lucozade. Lucozade's glucose syrup can be quickly absorbed from the intestine into bloodstream readily available as an energy source for the body and brain. For more information, please visit www.lucozade.com.hk.

About GSK
Headquartered in the UK, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is a world leading research-based pharmaceutical company with a powerful combination of skills and resources that provides a platform which to perform effectively in today's rapidly changing healthcare environment. GSK's mission is to improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. GSK has 108 manufacturing sites in 41 countries that supply products to 140 markets worldwide. The company has over 100,000 highly skilled and dedicated employees worldwide. GSK has a wide portfolio of healthcare products, including Lucozade Energy. For more information, please visit www.gsk.com.hk.

About the Public Opinion Programme, University of Hong Kong
Established in 1991, the Public Opinion Programme (POP) collects and studies public opinion on topics that could be of interest to academics, journalists, policy-makers, and the general public. POP is under the Faculty of Social Sciences in the University of Hong Kong. For more information, please visit http://hkupop.pori.hk.

For more information: