title: Examining individual factors according to health risk appraisal data as determinants of absenteeism among US utility employees.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate predictors of absenteeism and discuss potential implications for policy/program design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Health Risk Appraisal (HRA) data and self-reported and objective absenteeism (personnel records) were used to develop a structural equation model, controlling for age, sex, and job classification. A Medical Condition Burden Index (MCBI) was created by summing the number of self-reported medical conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher MCBI and stress were direct predictors of absenteeism. Physical activity was not associated with absenteeism but mediated both stress and MCBI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because stress impacted both absenteeism and MCBI, organizations may benefit by placing stress management as a priority for wellness program and policy focus. Physical activity was not directly associated with absenteeism but was a mediating variable for stress and MCBI. Measures of stress and physical health may be more meaningful as outcome measures for physical activity programs than absenteeism.
authors.affiliation: Health Management Research Center, School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA. mmarzec@umich.edu
authors.forename: Mary L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Marzec
authors.forename: Andrew F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Scibelli
authors.forename: Dee W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Edington
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009043:Motor Activity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016272:Occupational Health; D012044:Regression Analysis; D057566:Self Report; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014481:United States