Employees aged 30-49 took an average of 2.3 sick days in the past six months, more than any other age group, research from AXA PPP healthcare has found.
Of those questioned aged 30-49 12% have taken five or six sick days off in the past six months, while 25% have taken three or four days off work.
Those surveyed who took five or six days off sick accounted for 6% of those aged 18-29 and 5% of those aged 50-69, the survey of 2000 people conducted by OnePoll found.
Stress all or most of the time was felt by 38% of middle aged employees surveyed, with financial worries the main stress for 43%, while work pressure was a main stress for 41% of employees.
The research also found that 20% of those aged 30-49 were regularly skipping meals five or more days a week, compared with 15% of those aged 18-29 and 8% of those aged 50-69.
Being old than their years was felt by 37% of employees surveyed and 27% of those aged 30-49 felt their employment situation did not allow them to pursue their top priorities.
Dr Steve Iley, medical director for health services at AXA PPP healthcare, said: "Employers need to recognise that these middle aged workers are a particularly squeezed group, struggling with work and home pressures.
"The research suggests that many are not motivated or feeling valued in their work, an issue we would encourage employers to proactively address as the 30-49 age group, who are likely to have at least 20 years left in the workplace.
"Employers need to support their workers' mental and physical health, offering positive steps to ensure wellbeing now will help to ensure resilience in future."
