September 9, 2026, 11:55 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Job stress can affect sleep, mood, and the cardiovascular system. But the consequences may extend further: A recent study involving over 800 young, working men examined whether psychological stress at work is also linked to sexual health. It found that high work stress can lead to significant erectile dysfunction.
Significant Differences in Stress Levels
The more psychologically stressed the men were at work, the more frequently they reported erectile problems. In the group with the least stress, about eight percent had erectile dysfunction, while in the most stressed group, it was around 54 percent. The correlation remained even after researchers statistically accounted for other potential influencing factors. Parallel to this, researchers found changes in various hormones. Higher stress levels were associated with more cortisol and less testosterone.
Study Procedure
Researchers from China aimed to examine more closely how work stress and erectile function are related and what role stress and sex hormones might play. They studied 826 full-time employed men aged 22 to 40 in China between March 2022 and August 2024. Men with conditions that could physically cause erectile problems were excluded from the study. The results were published in the journal “International Journal of Clinical Practice.”1
To comprehensively capture workplace stress, the researchers developed their own stress index. Five factors were considered:
- Working hours
- Decision-making autonomy
- Support from supervisors
- Relationships with colleagues
- Promotion pressure
Participants also provided information about their erectile function. Additionally, cortisol and testosterone levels in the blood were measured. The researchers then examined how work stress, hormone levels, and erectile function were statistically related.
Stress Hormone Cortisol Plays an Important Role
As work stress increased, the average erectile function of participants gradually worsened. It was measured using the so-called IIEF-5 questionnaire, where higher scores indicate better erectile function. Scores of 22 to 25 points are considered normal, while lower scores indicate varying degrees of erectile problems. Among the least stressed men, erectile function averaged 22.86 out of a maximum of 25 points, which is within the normal range. In contrast, the most stressed men averaged only 15.28 points–a score indicating erectile problems.
Not all workplace stressors seem to have the same significance. According to the authors, long working hours and promotion pressure played a role. Support from supervisors and good relationships with colleagues, on the other hand, showed a protective correlation.
Hormonal differences were also observed: Long working hours and high promotion pressure were mainly associated with increased cortisol levels, while social support was linked to higher testosterone levels. According to statistical calculations, hormonal changes could explain nearly 40 percent of the observed relationship between work stress and erectile function. The stress hormone cortisol played the most significant role.
The analyses also suggest a precise timeline: First, cortisol levels rose. About two to four weeks later, testosterone levels dropped, and another four to six weeks later, erectile function deteriorated. According to the researchers, this six- to ten-week period presents an important window for early interventions before erectile dysfunction develops.
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Strengths and Weaknesses of the Study
A strength of the study is the relatively large number of participants. Additionally, the researchers not only examined psychological stress and erectile function but also measured various hormone levels. Potential influencing factors such as age, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep quality, depression, and anxiety disorders were considered in the statistical analysis. Men with known physical causes of erectile dysfunction were excluded from the study.
However, there are also potential limitations. The researchers developed a new index to measure work stress for the study. While it proved reliable in initial tests and aligned well with established methods, it still needs further validation. The risk model developed by the researchers to estimate the risk of erectile dysfunction cannot replace a medical diagnosis.
Despite the need for further validation, the developed risk model already provided promising results: By combining the stress index and hormone levels, the risk of erectile dysfunction could be predicted with high accuracy.
The authors also point out methodological limitations: The study included only young full-time employees in China who were in a stable partnership. Men with shift work and older age groups were deliberately excluded. Therefore, the results cannot be easily generalized to older men, shift workers, or other cultural contexts.
The study was funded by several Chinese research programs, but the authors reported no conflicts of interest.
Also of interest: Certain eating habits may lead to erectile dysfunction
What Previous Studies on This Topic Showed
The relationship between work stress and erectile function has also been studied outside of China. In 2019, a Greek research team surveyed 251 resident doctors about burnout, work stress, and sexual function.2 Among men, personal burnout was particularly associated with erectile dysfunction and lower sexual satisfaction. Among women, there was a link between work stress and issues with lubrication (natural moisture) and orgasm ability. The study, published in the “International Journal of Impotence Research,” was smaller than the current study and limited to one professional group.
Evidence of a possible hormonal connection is provided by a 2020 U.S. study involving 754 men who visited an andrology clinic.3 Shift workers with a sleep disorder had an average testosterone level about 100 ng/dl lower than shift workers without a sleep disorder. Testosterone therapy could partially compensate for impairments in erectile function. This generally aligns with the results of the Chinese study, where working hours also played an important role. However, the participants in the U.S. study were being treated for andrological issues and were not representative of the general population.