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Job‐Related Stress and Sickness Absence Among Belgian Nurses: A Prospective Study
Author(s) -
Trybou Jeroen,
Germonpre Sofie,
Janssens Heidi,
Casini Annalisa,
Braeckman Lutgart,
Bacquer Dirk De,
Clays Els
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of nursing scholarship
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1547-5069
pISSN - 1527-6546
DOI - 10.1111/jnu.12075
Subject(s) - job stress , stress (linguistics) , psychology , nursing , medicine , job satisfaction , social psychology , linguistics , philosophy
Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of job stress on sickness absence of nurses and determine the predictive power of the Demand‐Control‐Support (DCS) model, the Effort‐Reward Imbalance‐Overcommitment (ERI‐OC) model, and a combination of both. Design A survey was conducted to measure job stress in a sample of 527 Belgian nurses, followed by prospective data collection of sickness absence (long‐term, short‐term, and multiple episodes). Findings Perceptions of job strain and ERI increased the odds for long‐term (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.26; 99% confidence interval [CI; 1.27–4.04]) and multiple episodes of sickness absence (adjusted OR = 1.64; 95% CI [1.01–2.65]). Iso‐strain and ERI‐OC increased the odds for long‐term (OR = 1.75; 95% CI [0.98–3.11]), multiple episode (adjusted OR = 1.93; 95% CI [1.14–3.26]), and short‐term (adjusted OR = 1.69; 95% CI [1.03–2.76]) sickness absence. Conclusions The combined model of DCS and ERI‐OC predicts the odds for long‐term and short‐term sickness absence and multiple episodes. Clinical Relevance This study has implications for human resources management in nursing organizations. Nursing administrators are advised to monitor and balance nurses’ job demands and efforts. They should recognize the importance of social support, job control, job rewards, and overcommitment in order to reduce the job stress of nurses.