NAA Mental and Emotional Health Survey

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Mental and emotional health continues to be an important topic, as staffing challenges and rising costs elevate pressures on rental housing industry professionals and directly impact the bottom line. In its continued commitment to monitor and evaluate trends in well-being, the National Apartment Association (NAA) and its Mental Health Subcommittee have completed the fourth annual Mental Health Survey, conducted by JTurner and sponsored by MRI Software.

The goals of the study were to identify changes in mental and emotional health since the inaugural study, continue to raise awareness of this critically important topic, identify key industry challenges, and enable NAA to provide resources that members can use to act.

Respondents included corporate office personnel, regional operations team members, on-site employees, and NAA supplier partners. Click the link below to discover the current experiences of employees in the rental housing industry, areas of relative strength, and immediate opportunities for improvement.

Key Takeaways

A comprehensive survey, conducted in collaboration with J Turner Research, sought to understand the state of mental well-being within the rental housing industry. Targeting both management companies and supplier partners, the survey employed a three-pronged approach:

  • Mental and Emotional Distress: Utilizing the Kessler 10 questionnaire, the survey measured respondents’ current levels of distress.
  • Impact on Work Ability: This section explored the link between mental health and work performance, specifically examining absenteeism and presenteeism trends.
  • Prevalence of Workplace Trauma: The survey investigated the occurrence of workplace trauma within the industry and its subsequent impact on employees’ mental well-being.

High Distress Levels in Specific Roles

  • Across the Organization: Onsite Leasing (50%), Onsite Management (46%), C-Suite (45%) and Corporate Operations (44%) experience some of the highest levels of distress, indicating that no matter the level there is a challenge that needs to be addressed.

  • Not Always Greener: Both supplier partners and management experience significant distress, with levels reaching 46% and 42%, respectively, highlighting challenges across the industry.

Presenteeism and Effort

  •  Overexertion Across Roles: Respondents across all positions believe they are exceeding performance expectations, consistently reporting effort levels exceeding 100%. Interestingly, those identified as “Well” based on their Kessler 10 scores perceive their performance even higher, averaging 119%.
  • Onsite Maintenance Stands Out: Onsite maintenance personnel demonstrate the highest actual performance at 82%, showcasing their dedication despite potential challenges.

 Traumatic Experiences and Awareness of Resources

  • C-Suite Exposure: Surprisingly, the C-suite reports the highest rate of traumatic experiences (80%), followed by Onsite Management (50%) and Onsite Leasing (49%).

 Perception of Mental Health Support and Hopefulness

  • Hopefulness as an Indicator: While 80% of respondents express hopefulness, a lack of hope strongly correlates (0.97) with high distress levels, suggesting it as a potential early indicator of mental health concerns.

Overall Mental Health Trends

  • Positive Trajectory: The average mental health score is a promising 6.9 out of 10. This, coupled with a 6.6 average response to questions about improving mental health, suggests a positive trend in overall well-being.

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For questions, please email Tiana Heath.