This is the boss from hell – but your spouse gives you more stress

BRITONS find their partners more stressful than their boss, according to a poll out today.

Some 58 per cent of people said their other half creates stress, compared to just 43 per cent who thought the same of their superior at work.

It seems women find their boyfriends and husbands particularly stressful, with 18 per cent saying they are a big source of stress compared to 12 per cent of men who thought the same of their partners.

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The study, part of the Philips Health & Wellbeing Index report on 3,000 people, also found women were twice as concerned about their weight as their earnings.

Some 49 per cent of women said their weight was very important to their health and wellbeing, compared to 27 per cent who said the same about their salary.

Women were also twice as likely to worry about the effect of obesity on their future health (40 per cent) as the effect of cancer (20 per cent) or high cholesterol (20 per cent).

But, as women get older, weight becomes less of an issue, with 37 per cent of those over 65 saying it was very important compared to 63 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds and 59 per cent of 25- to 34-year-olds.

Just 36 per cent of men thought their weight was very important to their health and wellbeing while 33 per cent said it had more to do with wages.

Overall, 58 per cent of the Britons surveyed said they were dissatisfied with their weight, yet only 17 per cent go to the gym.

And 93 per cent of people in the UK believe their weight affects their health and wellbeing.

The poll found that half of men were satisfied with their weight, compared to 32 per cent of women.

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Meanwhile, relationships with family and friends was found to be very important for both sexes (71 per cent of women and 61 per cent of men).

Three-quarters of women said they spent time with their family and friends to improve their wellbeing compared to 59 per cent of men.

Overall, the study found just 38 per cent of Britons were satisfied with their health and wellbeing and 32 per cent believed it was worse than a year ago.

Overall, 41 per cent thought their health and wellbeing was worse than five years ago.

However, 38 per cent of people believe that by the time they get seriously ill, advances in medical technology will provide the cure.

Katy Hartley, director of The Philips Centre for Health and Wellbeing, said: "The picture that emerges from the Philips Health and Wellbeing Index is a nation unhappy with its health and wellbeing but confident that the worst will not happen to them."