One in four employed women says they are in "poor mental health" compared to 191% of men, a finding that worsens among those under 40, according to an Ipsos-BVA study for the Qualisocial firm published on Monday.
According to the "Mental Health & QWL (Quality of Life and Working Conditions, editor's note) 2026 barometer by Qualisocial", more women report being in good mental health compared to the same study conducted in 2025 (74%, i.e. +5 points), "but the gap with men persists".
For those who describe themselves as being in "rather or quite poor mental health", this "fragility is concentrated among the youngest", the barometer notes.
Thus, "29% among women under 40 (compared to 22% among those 40 and over)" report being "in poor mental health", the survey indicates.
“Women explain the deterioration of their mental health more by factors related to lack of time for themselves (44% compared to 35% among men) and personal or family difficulties (32% compared to 28%), and less by the national political situation (25% compared to 32%),” details the survey by the firm specializing in the issue of well-being at work.
"The mental load and the equation +time – personal life – work+" seem to be the crux of the problem, even if, on the other hand, they have a less positive view than men on certain aspects of working life ("work relationships", "inclusion and professional equality").
The Ipsos-BVA survey – the first part of which was published in January – was conducted in mid-November via the internet, among 3,000 workers constituting a representative sample of employees in the private and public sectors, aged 18 and over.
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