Work-family interference and long-term sickness absence: a longitudinal cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Alongside work environment factors, interference between work and domestic life has been proposed as an important explanation for long-term sickness absence, particularly for women. The aim was to investigate the association between work-to-family interference, family-to-work interference and long-term sickness absence among women and men in different family- and work-related settings.


METHODS
The study population was a random sample of 2867 gainfully employed adults in Sweden aged 25-50. In 2004, telephone interview data were collected that included questions about family, work and health. The outcome measure was having at least one spell of long-term sickness absence (>14 days) in 2005 based on social insurance register data. Associations were analysed by logistic regression.


RESULTS
Work-to-family interference was more common than family-to-work interference and more often reported by women. The overall associations with long-term sickness absence were weak. However, after adjustment for age and self-reported health, work-to-family interference was associated with long-term sick leave among men with higher socioeconomic status (odds ratio 2.87; 95% CI 1.36-6.07), and there was also a tendency to association among women bearing the main responsibility for housework and family (1.59; 0.99-2.54).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that work-to-family interference is associated with long-term sickness absence in the working population, but in a gender- and situation-specific manner. Hence, extensive work responsibilities for men, and probably extensive family responsibilities for women, could hamper the balance between work and family and increase the risk of long-term sick leave. Further studies are warranted within this area.
Lidwall
Ulrik
U
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Section of Insurance Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. ulrik.lidwall@socialagency.se
Marklund
Staffan
S
Voss
Margaretha
M
D000328:Adult; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005190:Family; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013548:Sweden; D014931:Women, Working / Q000706:statistics & numerical data