Exploring Epigenetic Responses to Occupational Stress in Tourism Workers and Implications for Mental Health

Abstract

Occupational stress is pervasive in the tourism sector, where high workloads, irregular hours, and customer-related pressures contribute to elevated risks of mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, and burnout. Emerging evidence suggests that these stressors exert their effects partly through epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, which modulate gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence. Activity-dependent epigenetic changes can influence stress-response pathways, inflammation, and circadian rhythms, linking workplace stress to long-term mental health outcomes. Understanding these pathways provides a framework for targeted interventions to mitigate occupational stress and enhance resilience among tourism workers.