According to a survey of more than 1,000 US adults by the Families and Work Institute in New York, the parents of teenagers tend to feel more burdened and overworked than the parents of younger children. Released last week, the findings add a new wrinkle to the available research on work hours and stress.

"We found out, for the first time, that parents of teens are more likely to be overworked than the working parents of younger children," said Erin Brownfield, a spokeswoman at the institute. "In fact, parents, in general, are not any more overworked than others. That was a big surprise." The study also reinforced the idea that people who enjoy the work they do and know their contributions are valued are less likely to feel overburdened by work, even when they're doing more.

"Low-value work is perceived as a waste of time and that makes people feel even more overworked," said Brownfield. "Multitasking can also make people feel overworked. When they have too many tasks that must be done at the same time, they feel as if they are working too hard and too much."

The report also further confirmed what overburdened workers have been suffering through for years: that too much work and too little play can cause depression, poor health, and higher stress levels.

READ: Too many tasks, too little play, can cause depression, poor health

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