Sixty percent of China's white-collar workers are suffering from stress in the work and home lives, a survey commissioned by the Beijing committee of the Communist Youth League shows.

The survey by the committee's psychology consultation center polled more than 400 white-collar workers from 20 companies and institutions in Beijing.

Sixteen percent responded that they felt "highly stressed", while 44 percent felt "quite stressed".

The three most frequently cited causes of stress were "overwork", "lack of time" and "family problems".

The constantly intensifying pressure of an increasing competitive society has gradually become a widely-discussed concern in China as the country's economic growth continues apace.

Xiong Hanzhong, director of the center, said, "The younger generation is especially obsessed with the pressures of study, job-hunting, work, livelihood and emotional problems."

A growing proportion of the population were suffering mental health problems, said Xiong.

The Beijing-based non-profit psychology consultation center was set up to provide stress counseling and advice for the growing number of white-collar workers.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2006)