For many things in life, there’s a plan B – but not for our health. That’s why it’s so important to listen to our bodies and take warning signs seriously, especially when stress becomes a constant companion. Stress is one of the biggest risk factors for both our mental and physical balance. It robs us of sleep, drains our energy, and affects our overall well-being. To better understand the stress level in Austria, we asked nearly 400 Austrians: What are the main stress factors? What health effects are associated with them? How is stress dealt with? The answers to these and other questions are eye-opening - and some even alarming.
7 out of 10 Austrians feel stressed (very) often, and less than half rate their mental health as (very) good. 40% even say their stress levels have worsened in recent years.
You can find the key insights from the Mavie Stress Study here:
70% of respondents reported feeling stressed (very) often – a significant increase of 16 percentage points compared to 2024. At the same time, the mental health of Austrians is declining: less than half now rate it as (very) good, compared to 58% last year. In addition, 40% of respondents say their stress levels have worsened in recent years.
Work remains the biggest stress factor (54%), followed by financial worries (26%) and family burdens (18%). The stress-related effects on physical and mental health are widely felt: nearly 50% of Austrians report stress-induced irritability and sleep problems. Overstrain (34%) and difficulty concentrating (31%) are also among the most common consequences of high stress levels in Austria.
The Mavie Stress Study 2025 makes it clear: stress is still an individual issue, but nowadays affects a large proportion of Austrians. Despite the high levels of stress, less than a quarter would seek mental health support in the coming months.
When asked how people deal with stress, Austrians primarily rely on trusted individuals and exercise: more than half turn to friends or family, just under half help themselves through exercise or sport, and around a quarter consciously take breaks to rest.
Only about one-fifth currently seek professional support such as psychotherapy or psychosocial counseling.
Among 18- to 24-year-olds, distracting scrolling on social media, along with talking to friends and family, ranks first among stress management measures.
At Mavie, we help people to take care of their physical and mental health preventatively.
With the Mavie Work health programs, we offer companies low-threshold health programs that enable their employees to do something for their health directly at the workplace, for example through personal consultations with psychosocial advisors.
The MavieMe health tests enable a simple and convenient health check directly from home. The blood tests can, for example, help to understand reasons for mood swings or a lack of energy - and provide helpful tips for improvement.
Whether at work or in their private lives, Austrians experience stress primarily when faced with existential worries or external pressure (e.g., financial issues or pressure to perform) or when interpersonal issues weigh heavily on them (e.g., conflicts with loved ones, superiors, or colleagues).
In their private lives, financial worries are the biggest stress trigger, followed by fears about the future and uncertainties, and worrying or negative thoughts about the past and future. Issues such as poor sleep or conflicts within the family are also major sources of stress for Austrians.
The stress is also noticeable in the professional sphere: performance and deadline pressure are perceived as the most stressful, followed by conflicts with superiors and colleagues. This is followed by overworked teams and an excessive workload. These situations not only drain energy, but also impair well-being in everyday working life.
