Decoding workplace mental health: Automatic clustering of the Spanish workforce

This study examines the prevalence and determinants of workplace mental health issues, focusing on experiences of burnout, anxiety, and depression within a Spanish population. The primary objectives are to (1) utilize automatic clustering analysis to identify distinct mental health profiles and (2) investigate the work-related factors contributing most significantly to poor mental health. Data were collected between February 2022 and January 2023, with a final sample comprising 1189 participants. The analysis identified two distinct mental health profiles. The cluster “Female_Burnout” predominantly includes women aged 31–40, with medium-level job responsibilities, who have experienced work-related mental health problems in the past and are currently suffering from burnout. The cluster “Male_NoBurnout” mainly consists of men aged 41–55, with low-level job responsibilities, who have also encountered mental health issues previously but are not currently experiencing burnout. The study identifies inadequate supervision as the most significant predictor of negative mental health outcomes in the first cluster and lack of reward in the second one. These findings underscore the critical impact of leadership quality and adequate reward on employee mental health and emphasize the necessity for targeted mental health interventions in the workplace, where factors such as gender, age and responsibility level are considered in the design and implementation of support mechanisms. This research offers practical implications for organizational policies aimed at enhancing employee well-being. • 82.15% of the study participants reported having experienced mental health issues due to work-related factors. • 48.9% of the respondents have suffered from burnout in their current job and just 15.7% took a leave of absence. • The study finds two distinct mental health profiles, in which gender, age and responsibility level play a role. • Inadequate leadership is the most predictive factor of poor mental health in one profile, and lack of reward in the other. • 61.4% would like to have psychological support/coaching provided by their workplace.