D4 Published development or research report or study
AI and Stress
Authors: Dang Thang; Huynh Phuong
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Publication year: 2026
Series title: INVEST Working Papers
Number in series: 147
eISSN: 2737 - 0534
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/5ymvq_v1
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/5ymvq_v1
Abstract
Given increasing artificial intelligence (AI) adoption at work, understanding its health implications is critically important. We use rich survey data from Finland and apply propensity score matching that controls for selection into AI adoption
to estimate the relationship between workplace AI usage and workers’ mental health. AI adoption increases the probability of workers experiencing reported stress by 4.4 percentage points, equivalent to a 25.6% increase relative to baseline.
This burden is primarily concentrated among men, non-supervisors, unionized workers, and employees in medium-sized workplaces. Our mechanism analysis reveals that stress is driven by labor intensification rather than displacement
fears, with AI adoption leading to significant increases in unpaid work and intense work absorption but no effect on job insecurity.
Given increasing artificial intelligence (AI) adoption at work, understanding its health implications is critically important. We use rich survey data from Finland and apply propensity score matching that controls for selection into AI adoption
to estimate the relationship between workplace AI usage and workers’ mental health. AI adoption increases the probability of workers experiencing reported stress by 4.4 percentage points, equivalent to a 25.6% increase relative to baseline.
This burden is primarily concentrated among men, non-supervisors, unionized workers, and employees in medium-sized workplaces. Our mechanism analysis reveals that stress is driven by labor intensification rather than displacement
fears, with AI adoption leading to significant increases in unpaid work and intense work absorption but no effect on job insecurity.
Funding information in the publication:
This work was funded by the Research Council of Finland (project numbers 355153 and 345546).
UTU Research Portal