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Work stress is something nearly everyone experiences in their life, but most people assume it’s simply work in general that causes the anxiety, rather than co-workers or colleagues. Research begs to differ, however. According to a study from The Workforce Institute at UKG, a manager at work has more impact on your mental health than your therapist or doctor.

In life, stress is something that unfortunately can’t be avoided, but there are ways to minimize your exposure to things that can be detrimental to your overall mental well-being. Barring finding another job, that’s not often the case when it comes to a boss who’s messing with your head. 

Research has found that managers can affect your mental health more than therapists or doctors.

The Workforce Institute at UKG surveyed 3,400 people across 10 countries to spotlight the role that our jobs and managers play in supporting mental health in and outside of work. In the survey, via BusinessWire, managers were found to have a significant impact on their employees’ mental health.

More than 69% of managers affect their employees’ mental health compared to 51% of doctors or 41% of therapists.

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On top of that, 80% of employees would rather have good mental health than a high-paying job, two-thirds of employees would take a pay cut for a job that better supports their mental wellness, and work stress negatively impacts employees’ home life (71%), wellbeing (64%), and relationships (62%).

“We talk a lot about mental health in terms of a medical diagnosis or burnout. While those are serious issues, the day-to-day stressors we live with — especially those caused by work — are what we should talk more about as leaders,” Pat Wadors, chief people officer at UKG, told BusinessWire.

“Life isn’t all milk and honey, and when leaders open up about their own struggles, they acknowledge employees are not alone, and that it’s OK not to be OK. Authentic, vulnerable leadership is the key to creating belonging at work, and, in turn, the key to solving the mental health crisis in the workplace.”

: If You Notice These 4 Behaviors, You’re Dealing With A Deeply Dysfunctional Boss

Employees admit to feeling tired and want their managers to do better.

Per the survey, 43% of employees are “often” or “always” exhausted, and 78% of employees said that stress negatively impacts their work performance. Much of that stress often follows working-class people even when they arrive at home.

Employees said work negatively impacts their home life (71%), well-being (64%), and relationships (62%). For people who reported “poor” or “very poor” mental health, around one-quarter (28%) said they lack work-life balance, compared with just 4% of people in “good” or “excellent” mental health.

In research presented by BetterWorks, it was found that employees don’t quit their jobs; they quit their bosses. Basically, bosses have the ability to turn a workplace into a toxic environment, or they can choose to prioritize employee satisfaction and improve retention and productivity. 

: 3 Things Smart Employees Do At Work That Scare Bad Bosses

Over 57% of unhappy employees leave their jobs because of their bosses. 

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“Being overwhelmed consumes human energy and impacts retention, performance, innovation, and culture,” Dr. Jarik Conrad, executive director of The Workforce Institute at UKG, told BusinessWire. “Employers can be the anchor of stability for their people by giving them the support and resources they need — not just what we think they need.”

In an interview with NBC News, Mary Abbajay, president of Careerstone Group, an organizational consulting and coaching service, explained that you shouldn’t let a bad manager deter you from doing your job.

“Your whole career, you’re going to have people who are difficult. The more adaptable we can be at managerial relationships with different people, the better off we’re going to be in our careers,” she told the news outlet. “See if you can’t adapt a little bit more.”

Abbajay recommended finding a mentor outside of your immediate boss, especially if they aren’t providing the stability that you need.  Look for professionals outside of your organization that you admire and reach out to them. “Don’t let a boss who isn’t good at mentoring stop you from being mentored.”

However, things like that are easier said than done. Having a toxic manager who consistently depletes your mental health shouldn’t be something you stand for or try to deal with.

At the end of the day, if a job isn’t serving you anymore, quitting and finding something else is sometimes the better plan of action.  

It’s obviously a tough decision as the job market is something of a mess, but at the end of the day, prioritizing your own mental health is often more important. At the very least, actively start looking to get out of your toxic workplace.

: 3 Emotional Signs You’ve Already Quit Your Job — Even If You’ve Haven’t Told Your Boss Yet

Nia Tipton is a staff writer with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and journalism who covers news and lifestyle topics that focus on psychology, relationships, and the human experience.