(INDIANA) - Indiana workers appear to be faring better than most of the country when it comes to workplace burnout, according to a new nationwide analysis. A study released by Nutrition NC ranks Indiana 41st out of 50 states for burnout risk, placing it near the bottom of the list and among the least affected states overall.
Researchers evaluated states using five factors tied to mental exhaustion and work-related stress, including average weekly work hours, commute times, access to mental health providers, health-related productivity loss, and online search behavior related to burnout symptoms. Indiana workers averaged 40.4 hours per week, while about 6.3 percent of the workforce reported commutes of 60 minutes or more each way.
The study found Hoosiers lose an average of 10.4 days per month to poor physical or mental health. Indiana also has 236 mental health support providers per 100,000 residents, a figure researchers described as relatively low despite the state's favorable overall ranking. Google search data showed a burnout-related search interest score of 57, contributing to Indiana's overall burnout score of 44.68, ninth lowest in the country. Researchers said the states most affected by workplace burnout risk were Texas, Virginia, Louisiana, New York, and Georgia.
The index weighted workload intensity most heavily, followed by burnout-related online search activity, health-related productivity loss, access to mental health support, and commute burden. Researchers said excessive work hours remain the primary driver of chronic burnout nationwide, while long commutes and limited access to care act as compounding stressors.