Workplace stress is shortening women's lives

It's impossible to see the detrimental affect stress has on the human body until you look at the trends over numerous years - which is exactly what a robust new study has done.

And as it turns out, the pressures of modern work and life for the average woman is taking its toll on their overall lifespans.

According to official figures from Britain's Office for National Statistics - which analysed mortality rates of men and women over the last 50 years - women are increasingly losing their ability to outlive men, as their health suffers from the pressures of balancing work and family.

Despite mortality rates improving overall for both men and women, the rapid pace as which women's lives have changed since increasingly entering the workforce since 1963 are obvious.

Essentially, while men are becoming healthier, women appear to be held back by workplace stress and behaviours which were once more commonly associated with men, such as drinking and smoking.

The general narrowing of the gap between male and female mortality rates can be explained by a number of reasons including improvements in male health leading to a rise in male life expectancy which has increased at a greater rate than for females," the study noted.

"Increases in women entering the labour force over the last 50 years are considered to have had an impact on levels of stress, smoking and drinking, leading to changes in the health of females."

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In 1963, for people aged 55 to 69, the male mortality rates were double that of females - but by 2013, the relative difference in mortality within this age bracket has reduced. Today, it is only about 50% higher.

Also in 1963, deaths were highest for males aged 70 to 74 years (15% of all male deaths) whereas deaths were highest for females at ages 80 to 84 and 85 and over (each with 18% of all female deaths). By 2013, deaths were highest for both males and females aged 85 and over (29% of all male deaths and 48% of all female deaths).

While the gap between women and men is narrowing, both sexes are still living longer overall, the study notes.

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