Chinese officials are seriously stressed, said a scholar on
Thursday.
"Increasing job and social stress is having a major impact on
the health of government officials in China, many of whom have
become "hyper-irritable" because of the fast working pace they have
to put up with," said Zhang Kan, director of the Institute of
Psychology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the think tank of
the Chinese government.
Zhang said hyperirritability leads to problems such as menstrual
pain in women and erectile dysfunction in men, asthma, diabetes and
osteoporosis.
More than 100 officials from 38 central government departments
attended a lecture on psychological health given by Zhang here on
Thursday.
Zhang gave the gathered officials some advice on how to release
pressure and stay healthy. Knowing how to prioritize was one key
but Zhang also spoke about the importance of getting sufficient
sleep and physical exercise and a good diet. On the emotional and
social side, he pointed to the importance of having friends,
family, a sense of humor and knowing how to express one's
feelings.
Another survey conducted recently by a U.S. pharmaceutical firm
and the China Population Communication Center shows that about 30
percent of middle-aged couples in China have given up on sex
altogether as a result of physical or psychological problems
related to stress from their life and careers.
(Xinhua News Agency April 6, 2007)