title: Changes in working conditions and subsequent sickness absence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to examine the associations of changes in exposure to physical and psychosocial working conditions on subsequent sickness absence among ageing municipal employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in exposure to working conditions were assessed between baseline (2000-2002) and follow-up (2007) surveys. Register-based sickness absence information was linked to the survey data (N=3739) and followed-up from the return of the questionnaire in 2007 to the end of 2010. The study included six measures of physical and two measures of psychosocial working conditions. Negative binomial regression analysis was used to assess the associations and adjust for covariates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Favorable changes in physical working conditions lowered the risk for sickness absence whereas adverse changes increased the risk. Adverse changes in psychosocial working conditions only slightly increased the risk for sickness absence whereas favorable changes were unassociated with sickness absence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes in exposure to physical working conditions in particular are associated with subsequent sickness absence. Preventing an increase in exposure to both psychosocial and physical working conditions and promoting a decrease in exposure to physical working conditions likely helps reduce the risk of sickness absence.
authors: University of Helsinki, Hjelt Institute, Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. peppiina.saastamoinen@helsinki.fi.
authors: Peppiina
authors: P
authors: Saastamoinen
authors: Mikko
authors: M
authors: Laaksonen
authors: Eero
authors: E
authors: Lahelma
authors: Tea
authors: T
authors: Lallukka
authors: Olli
authors: O
authors: Pietiläinen
authors: Ossi
authors: O
authors: Rahkonen
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018582:Sick Leave; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance