Work health determinants in employees without sickness absence.
BACKGROUND
Working ability is known to be related to good physical condition, clear work tasks, positive feedback and other occupational, organizational and psychosocial factors. In Sweden, high levels of sickness absence are due to stress-related disorders and musculoskeletal pain.


OBJECTIVE
To identify work health characteristics in a working population with a large variety of professional skills and occupational tasks.


METHODS
Employers' data on occupation, sickness absence, age and gender in a working population of 11 occupational groups and questionnaire responses regarding work-organization, environment, work stress, pain, health, and socio-demographic factors were collected. Employees with no history of sick-leave were compared with those with a history of sick-leave (1-182 days, mean 25 days).


RESULTS
Of 2641 employees, 1961 participated. Those with no history of sick-leave reported less work-related pain, work-related stress, sleep disturbances, worry about their health, 'sick-presenteeism', monotonous work, bent and twisted working positions and exposure to disturbing noise than those with a history of sick-leave (P < 0.001). They also reported better health, support from superiors, having influence on their working hours and evening and week-end working, longer working hours per week (P < 0.001) and more regular physical training (P < 0.01). Socio-demographic factors were less important than gender, and differences in responses between occupational groups were also found.


CONCLUSIONS
Workers without a history of sick-leave experienced less stress, sleep disturbances, worry about their own health and less neck, shoulder and back pain and more support from their superiors and influence on their working hours.
Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institute, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. e.schell@telia.com
E
E
Schell
T
T
Theorell
B
B
Nilsson
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H
Saraste
D000041:Absenteeism; D001007:Anxiety; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain; D009622:Noise; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016272:Occupational Health; D009790:Occupations; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D011187:Posture; D015995:Prevalence; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D018582:Sick Leave; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology