One in four adults (25 per cent) plan to work longer hours during the next six months and one in eight intend to take on a second job, despite the workplace being a major source of stress, according to research from Friends Provident released on National Stress Awareness Day (5 November).

Almost two thirds of people (61 per cent) say they feel more stressed, run down and prone to illness than they did three years ago - and more than one in 10 (11 per cent) of these busy and pressured Brits say the majority of stress they experience comes from work, specifically their bosses and colleagues.

In addition to raising stress levels by putting in more hours at work, millions of Brits aren't even benefitting financially. The Britain Under Pressure report reveals that UK adults are working an average of seven hours unpaid overtime every week - losing out on a combined £23 billion a year.

Mark Jones, head of protection at Friends Provident, said:

"Our research shows the credit crunch is having serious implications on the nation's workforce, with people working and worrying more. These are tense times, and working longer - often for little or no financial reward - will add to people's stress levels. Stress can have serious ramifications on long-term health and wellbeing, and the lifestyle impact of living a stressed and busy lifestyle - poor diet and lack of exercise in particular - is adding to the problem."

As the credit crunch worsens, Brits are following a pattern they've resorted to before: more than a quarter of people (27 per cent) have put more time in at work when they've been concerned about money in the past…