Measures of work-family conflict predict sickness absence from work.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relation between work-family conflict and sickness absence.


METHODS
The BELSTRESS III study comprised 2983 middle-aged workers. Strain-based work-home interference (WHI) and home-work interference (HWI) were assessed by means of self-administered questionnaires. Prospective data of registered sickness absence during 12-months follow-up were collected. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted.


RESULTS
HWI was positively and significantly related to high sickness absence duration (at least 10 sick leave days) and high sickness absence frequency (at least 3 sick leave episodes) in men and women, also after adjustments were made for sociodemographic variables, health indicators, and environmental psychosocial factors. In multivariate analysis, no association between WHI and sickness absence was found.


CONCLUSIONS
HWI was positively and significantly related to high sickness absence duration and frequency during 12-months follow-up in male and female workers.
Clays
Els
E
Department of Public Health, Ghent University, University Hospital, De Pintelaan, Belgium. els.clays@UGent.be
Kittel
France
F
Godin
Isabelle
I
Bacquer
Dirk De
DD
Backer
Guy De
GD
D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium; D004651:Employment; D054541:Family Conflict; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000639:trends; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires