Psychosocial work environment predictors of short and long spells of registered sickness absence during a 2-year follow up.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of psychosocial work environment factors on short and long absence spells.


METHODS
Questionnaire data on work environment exposures and registered absence data during 2-year follow up were analyzed with Poisson regression for 1919 employees from the private and public sector.


RESULTS
Short spells (1-10 working days) were predicted by low supervisor support, low predictability, and low meaning at work among men and high skill discretion among women. Long spells (>10 days) were predicted by low decision authority, low supervisor support, and low predictability among men and high psychologic demands and low decision authority among women. The variables predictability and meaning at work were developed for this study.


CONCLUSIONS
Specific psychosocial work environment factors have both common and different effects on short and long absence spells. Effects also differ by gender.
Nielsen
Martin L
ML
National Institute of Occupational Health, Copenhagen, Denmark. malini@fa.dk
Rugulies
Reiner
R
Christensen
Karl B
KB
Smith-Hansen
Lars
L
Kristensen
Tage S
TS
D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012923:Social Class; D013997:Time Factors