A recent study has suggested that people who feel pressured or overloaded at work may waste time on the internet as a coping mechanism.

Compulsive internet use has been identified as one way workers seek reprieve from the rate race, with new figures presented at the British Psychological Society’s Annual Conference.

To find out what may be motivating heavy internet use among workers, researchers Dr Cristina Quinones-Garcia and Professor Nada Korac-Kakabadse asked 516 participants aged 18 to 65 - employed and unemployed - to complete questionnaires assessing their emotional stability, workload, life satisfaction and hours of internet usage.

For over sixty per cent of respondents compulsive browsing was seemingly on account of working excessively, even when emotional stability was taken into account.

Most interestingly, while unemployed people spent more time online, they did not show the same addictive tendencies as those in work. The study also found compulsive internet use can lead to measurable withdrawal symptoms.

The researchers say employers must not underestimate the risks of a forceful and excessive work culture, saying affected individuals are at risk of developing harmful isolation, depression and anxiety.