Stressed at work? Well, it's been scientifically proved that it's all your fault.

Occupational and Environmental Medicine online (oem.bmj.com) reports that mental health problems in childhood are associated with lower-status occupations.

But - and here's where it's your fault - the researchers say that people who have mental illness early in their lives may also opt for less demanding, low-status work, because it may be more manageable. At the same time, these jobs are less rewarding and more stressful. And so a cycle of stress is created.

There are other factors at play. Mental health problems in childhood could also affect the ability to pass exams and gain qualifications, which may hamper an individual's prospects of getting well-paid and satisfying work.

CCTV is all-seeing but not much doing

Can we really sleep easier in our beds because of the plethora of cameras in our communities, or is it just an urban myth we want to be true?

BACKGROUND

• There may be trouble ahead

• Low-status work is stressful

• A medicine man's prescription

• What worked for us

Related Internet Links

• Public sector jobs

• Snakes & Ladders

The study involved more than 8,000 people born during the same week in March 1958. Mental health was reviewed at the ages of 7, 11 and 16, using information from teachers and parents, and at 23 and 33, through personal interviews. At the age of 45, people discussed their working lives and mental health.

The good news is that some problems in childhood do disappear. It's one reason why the procedures for following up children who survive cancer need to be re-evaluated, say doctors writing in the British Medical Journal (April 5). While most adults who survive cancer are followed up for five years, historically children have been followed up for life.

“Only those with the highest risk of late effects should probably be brought back regularly to the clinic,” they say. “Although many patients will benefit from ongoing follow-up others must be allowed to move on - to leave the clinical setting and put the experience of cancer behind them. If we keep calling patients back to the clinic, some may never believe they have been cured.”

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