Early identification of work-related stress predicted sickness absence in employed women with musculoskeletal or mental disorders: a prospective, longitudinal study in a primary health care setting.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives were to identify work-related stress, and to analyse whether or not work-related stress served to predict sick-leave in a population of employed women who saw a doctor due to musculoskeletal or mental disorder at primary health care centres.


METHODS
This prospective study was based on data collected with the Work Stress Questionnaire (WSQ) at baseline 2008 and at follow-up 2009 in the primary health care centres in western Sweden. A total of 198 women participated.


RESULTS
High perceived stress owing to indistinct organization and conflicts at baseline increased the risk for sick-leave 8 days or longer at follow-up. The adjusted relative risk (RR) was 2.50 (1.14-5.49). The combination of high stress perception owing to indistinct organization and high stress perception owing to individual demands and commitment increased the risk for sickness absence of 8 days or longer with an adjusted RR of 4.34 (1.72-10.99).


CONCLUSIONS
Work-related stress predicted sick-leave during the follow-up at 12 months. The WSQ seemed to be useful in identifying women at risk of future sick-leave. Thus, it can be recommended to introduce questions and questionnaires on work-related stress in primary health care settings to early identify women with the need for preventive measures in order to decrease risk for sick-leave due to work-related stress.
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Social Medicine, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden. kristina.holmgen@neuro.gu.se
Kristina
K
Holmgren
Malin
M
Fjällström-Lundgren
Gunnel
G
Hensing
D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D016014:Linear Models; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult