Chronic Work Stress and Health Promotion: A Narrative Review of Japan, South Africa, and the Netherlands

Abstract

Work-related stress manifests in diverse ways across national contexts.In Japan, a rigid work culture contributes to high levels of occupational stress and burnout, including karoshi (death by overwork); in South Africa, professionals face stressors linked to job insecurity, resource constraints, and workload imbalances; and in the Netherlands, despite progressive labor policies, sector-specific stressors remain prevalent. This review paper explores these variations in chronic workplace stress and examines the role of self-care and health promotion initiatives, while also identifying critical gaps in the current literature across Japan, South Africa, and the Netherlands to suggest directions for future research. Employing a narrative approach that allows for a comprehensive overview of diverse perspectives without the constraints of predefined inclusion criteria, thisreview synthesizes findings from peer-reviewed literature and authoritative reports. The findings shed light onhow occupational health policies, supportive workplace cultures and structures, health promotion, and targeted stress management strategies play a vital role in addressing work-related stress. Nonetheless, the effectiveness of these measures varies substantially across national contexts, underscoring the need for tailored, context-specific approaches. This study concludes that although current interventions demonstrate varying levels of effectiveness, they also reveal significant gaps that highlight the need for more integrated, evidence-based, and context-sensitive strategies for managing chronic workplace stress.