Open AccessAssociation of work‐time control with sickness absence due to musculoskeletal and mental disorders: An occupational cohort study
Author(s) -
Albrecht Sophie Charlotte,
Leineweber Constanze,
Ojajärvi Anneli,
Oksanen Tuula,
Kecklund Goran,
Härmä Mikko
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of occupational health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 1348-9585
DOI - 10.1002/1348-9585.12181
Subject(s) - medicine , workload , job control , sick leave , proportional hazards model , cohort , hazard ratio , cohort study , occupational safety and health , musculoskeletal disorder , physical therapy , demography , work (physics) , human factors and ergonomics , poison control , confidence interval , environmental health , mechanical engineering , pathology , sociology , computer science , engineering , operating system
Objectives Work‐time control is associated with lower sickness absence rates, but it remains unclear whether this association differs by type of diagnosis and sub‐dimension of work‐time control (control over daily hours and control over time off) and whether certain vulnerable groups benefit more from higher levels of work‐time control. Methods Survey data from the Finnish 10‐town study in 2004 were used to examine if baseline levels of work‐time control were associated with register data on diagnose‐specific sickness absence for 7 consecutive years (n = 22 599). Cox proportional hazard models were conducted, adjusted for age, sex, education, occupational status, shift work including nights, and physical/mental workload. Results During follow‐up, 2,818 individuals were on sick leave (≥10 days) due to musculoskeletal disorders and 1724 due to mental disorders. Employees with high (HR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.74‐0.87; HR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.70‐0.82, respectively) and moderate (HR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.77‐0.90; HR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.79‐0.91, respectively) levels of control over daily hours/control over time off had a decreased risk of sickness absence due to musculoskeletal disorders. Sub‐group analyses revealed that especially workers who were older benefitted the most from higher levels of work‐time control. Neither sub‐dimension of work‐time control was related to sickness absence due to mental disorders. Conclusions Over a 7‐year period of follow‐up, high and moderate levels of work‐time control were related to lower rates of sickness absence due to musculoskeletal disorders, but not due to mental disorders.