Revealed: The psychological implications of business travel

Young woman in international airport, waiting for her flight and looking upset or worried. Missed, canceled or delayed flight concept

The International SOS Foundation has teamed up with Kingston University and Affinity Health at Work, to reveal insights into the habits, health and psychological implications of international business travel on the traveller.

As employee mental health and its impact on business outcomes is increasingly scrutinised, this ground breaking research uncovers the rise in risky behaviours, burn out, and exhaustion.

However, a sense of adventure, freedom and heightened engagement also comes with business travel.

The whitepaper ‘Keeping International Business Travellers Happy, Healthy & Engaged at Home and Away’ also starts to uncover the organisational, social and individual factors that support and hinder the psychological health of IBTs.

“The business opportunities associated with international travel are undisputed, but research suggests that frequent travellers make three times as many claims for psychological treatment compared to those who don’t travel on business regularly,” Kai Boschmann, Director, International SOS Foundation, who commissioned the study said.

“To foster business productivity and fulfil Duty of Care in a sustained way, organisations need to also understand how they can protect the mental health and physical wellbeing of their employees while travelling.”

“By starting to look into the causes as well as the impacts on business travellers, the paper provides practical support for employers and employees as well as valuable insights,” Dr Rachel Lewis, Associate Professor in Occupational Psychology and Programme Director for the MSc and Professional Doctorate Programme in Occupational and Business Psychology, at Kingston Business School added.

“Awareness is the first step in tackling these issues that are, inevitably, going to become more prevalent as the global workforce increasingly travels internationally in search of business opportunity and success.”

Risky Behaviours Uncovered

While 67 per cent of respondents to the study reported increased engagement in their jobs due to business travel, over a third (34 per cent) of international business travellers (IBTs) are more likely to engage in a number of risky behaviours when travelling, compared to their behaviour at home, and only 15 per cent are more concerned about their safety while they’re away.

This trend is particularly evident among the younger, less experienced employees.  The study shows that this may be the result of lowered inhibitions; the majority (75 per cent) agree that they see business travel as an opportunity for adventure and exploration, and, for 59 per cent, it’s an opportunity to enjoy freedom from home life.

  • 46 per cent admit to consuming more alcohol when away on business
  • 35 per cent are more likely to visit bars and nightclubs
  • 35 per cent more likely to eat in unhygienic places
  • 33 per cent will travel to areas they don’t know are safe
  • 32 per cent are more likely to travel in vehicles without adequate protection
  • Nearly one in ten travellers (9 per cent) also reported that they would be more likely to start a sexual relationship with a new sexual partner(s)
  • 2 per cent are more likely to have unprotected sex and 2 per cent are more likely to use drugs than they are at home

Mental & Physical Health

The report also uncovers the impact on mental health and physical wellbeing, including an increase in stress levels and emotional exhaustion.1 per cent their mood suffers when on business

  • 45 per cent experience an increase in stress levels while on a business trip
  • 41 per cent of respondents report that their mood suffers when on business trips
  • Nearly 1/3 (31 per cent) experience emotional exhaustion, a core feature of burnout, on a weekly basis (particularly prevalent in IBTs with children voiced higher levels of emotional exhaustion)
  • 1/4 of respondents report their mental health issues are more prevalent (including heightened depression, 27 per cent, stress, 24 per cent and anxiety, 23 per cent)

Mental health issues are consolidated with physical health demands and issues, including working more hours (78 per cent), are less likely to have a balanced diet (76 per cent), less likely to exercise (76 per cent), and suffer from reduced quality sleep (73 per cent).

Organisational support

While many organisations are providing for the logistics of business travel adequately, when it comes to health and wellbeing, it’s a different matter:

  • 77 per cent provide or enable booking /arrangement of travel logistics
  • 72 per cent choose quality hotel accommodation
  • 65 per cent allow bleisure time
  • 59 per cent provide business class flights on long haul
  • 34 per cent Employee Assistance Plan
  • 25 per cent wellness programme
  • 21 per cent mental health support

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