Australians suffer ‘burnout’ more than any other nation, new data shows

A new global study has exposed Australia as a nation on the brink of a worrying new health “phenomenon” that has a grim effect on our lives.

Australia is the most “burnt out” nation in the world, according to a new global study.

New research has revealed a staggering 1 in 2 of us are affected by the growing health issue, which is caused by excessive and prolonged stress and can leave sufferers feeling mentally exhausted and devoid of motivation.

The worrying findings were published in lululemon’s 2024 Global Wellbeing Report, conducted by independent research agency Edelman Data & Intelligence, which surveyed more than 16,000 people across 15 different countries.

It identified that while wellness is a “top priority” for Australians, many felt “stuck” in a counter-productive cycle where the relentless pursuit of being well is leaving them feeling “more burnt out than ever”.

Australia is the most ‘burnt out’ nation in the world, according to a new global study. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Dr Emily Musgrove, a Perth-based clinical psychologist, warned burnout can have a detrimental effect on our physical health as well as our mental wellbeing.

“Burnout can be considered a phenomenon that occurs when the demands of a situation or environment begin to outweigh our internal and external resources,” she told news.com.au.

“From a physiological point of view, it is represented as the chronic activation of the stress response.

“When the body sits in a chronic state of stress our body’s capacity to fight off illness and disease becomes compromised. This is why we are more likely to get sick and take longer to recover when we are stressed.

“In the long term, experiencing chronic stress is associated with higher rates of mortality.”

Dr Emily Musgrove, a Perth-based clinical psychologist, warned burnout can have a detrimental effect on our health. Picture: Instagram

Of those experiencing “high levels” of stress, a staggering 2 in 3 admitted they felt “powerless” when it comes to improving their overall wellbeing.

But while there has been a spike in burnout across all age groups, the report determined that Gen Z is more impacted by the condition and its challenges than any other demographic.

The data also showed that 58 per cent of Gen Z Australians are struggling to find a sense of purpose, compared to 40 per cent nationally, with this lack of purpose resulting in 85 per cent of Gen Z experiencing burnout, compared to 55 per cent of Australians overall.

The lululemon 2024 Global Wellbeing Report found 85 per cent of Gen Z were experiencing burnout, compared to 55 per cent of Australians overall. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

“There is no question that exposure to social media has significantly impacted upon a perceived pressure to ‘be well’,” Dr Musgrove, a lululemon ambassador, said.

“Gen Zs are being shown and told what wellbeing is meant to look like through a lens that does not always reflect reality. Social media cannot capture the ‘felt’ experience of wellbeing, nor does it take into account our unique histories and individual needs.

“We also know that social media innately facilitates comparison, which most often elicits a feeling of not being good enough. It can leave individuals feeling both helpless and inadequate.”

Group exercise is among three tools that can help Aussies overcome the global health 'phenomenon'. Picture: Instagram/lululemon

While the exact cause of this alarming shift in Aussie wellbeing is not know, Dr Musgrove said she believed the “severity and duration” of Covid lockdowns experienced in Australia “have had a profound impact upon our health and wellbeing overall”.

But there is good news for those struggling with burnout, with the data highlighting three key strategies to help Australians navigate and overcome the condition.

These include exercising the new “right to disconnect” laws which recently came into effect, engaging in group activities and prioritise physical exercise at your own pace.

“I think very simply, we need to slow down, be present, move our bodies and to connect with those around us,” Dr Musgrove shared.

“If we are constantly experiencing stress as a function of always being available, we not only do ourselves a disservice, but also do our workplaces and our relationships a disservice. “Holding healthy boundaries means we can show up to our jobs and our relationships from a place of greater vitality. This benefits us all.”

Other countries which have fared badly in lululemon’s 2024 Global Wellbeing Report included New Zealand, which placed second in the top global burnout zones, followed by Canada in third place, Malaysia fourth, and the United States ranking fifth.

Originally published as Australians suffer ‘burnout’ more than any other nation, new data shows