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Psychosocial work environment and registered absence from work: Estimating the etiologic fraction
Author(s) -
Nielsen Martin L.,
Rugulies Reiner,
SmithHansen Lars,
Christensen Karl B.,
Kristensen Tage S.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.20252
Subject(s) - psychosocial , medicine , sick leave , discretion , social support , absenteeism , danish , gerontology , psychiatry , psychology , physical therapy , social psychology , linguistics , philosophy , political science , law
Background Evidence is growing that an adverse psychosocial work environment increases sickness absence, but little is known on the magnitude of this problem or the impact of specific factors. Methods Psychological demands, decision authority, skill discretion, social support from colleagues or supervisor, predictability, and meaning of work were assessed with questionnaires at baseline and sickness absence was followed‐up in employers' registers for 1,919 respondents (response rate 75.2%, 68% women, mainly low‐skilled jobs) from 52 Danish workplaces during a 2‐year period. Etiologic fractions (EFs) were calculated with the most favorable quartiles as reference. Results In the fully adjusted model, the following EFs were found: decision authority: 12%; social support from supervisors: 8%; psychological demands: 6%; and predictability: 5%. In total, the seven psychosocial factors explained 29% of all sick‐leave days. Conclusions The results suggest that improving the psychosocial work environment among the less favorable 75% may prevent substantial amounts of absence. Am. J. Ind. Med. 49:187–196, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.