Mental health, job satisfaction, alcohol intake and occupational stress among dealers in financial markets

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Abstract
This study assessed the job stress and stress‐coping mechanisms associated with the mental health, job satisfaction and alcohol intake of dealers (i.e. traders in currency, gilts, swaps, bonds, etc.) working in the City of London. Two hundred and twenty‐five dealers completed questionnaires providing data on the independent variables of job stress, stress‐coping methods, coronary‐prone (type A) behaviour, locus of control, personality, sources of stress in the job, and demographic and biographic factors. Dependent variables were mental health, job satisfaction, and alcohol consumption. It was found that male dealers showed significantly higher anxiety scores than the normative population. The job satisfaction levels of dealers was found to be high. 41.3 per cent of dealers reported drinking more than the average for professionals and 23.6 per cent reported drinking at least twice as much as the recommended maximum weekly intake. Male dealers drank significantly more than female dealers. Multivariate analysis disclosed that the stress of taking risks and achieving high performance was related to both low job satisfaction and low mental health. The stress‐coping method of prioritizing and planning work was related to job satisfaction, mental health and lower alcohol consumption. Internal locus of control was found to be associated with both job satisfaction and mental health. Neuroticism was also highly predictive of mental health, as expected. Dealers working for US‐owned financial institutions were found to indicate significantly less job satisfaction and poorer mental health than dealers working for British‐owned institutions.

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