title: The relation between psychosocial risk factors and cause-specific long-term sickness absence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim was to study the impact of psychosocial risk factors on long-term sickness absence due to mental health problems (LSA-MH) or musculoskeletal disorders (LSA-MSD) in 2983 Belgian middle-aged workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from 1372 male and 1611 female workers in the Belstress III study. Considered psychosocial risk factors were job demands, job control, social support, job strain, efforts, rewards, effort-reward imbalance and bullying. Prospective registered sickness absence data were collected during 12 months follow-up; the causes for long-term sickness absence episodes of at least 15 consecutive days were obtained by contacting the general practitioner of the worker. Multiple logistic regression models were used to investigate the relationship between the psychosocial risk factors and LSA-MH and LSA-MSD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher levels of rewards at baseline were independently and significantly associated with a lower risk for LSA-MH. Higher levels of control were associated with a lower risk for LSA-MSD during follow-up. Higher job demands and efforts were significantly related to a lower risk for LSA-MSD. Finally, bullying was significantly and independently related to both LSA-MH and LSA-MSD during the follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that psychosocial risk factors are related to LSA-MH and LSA-MSD, of which especially bullying seems to be a potent stressor.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Public Health, Ghent University, University Hospital-Block A(2), De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium heidi.janssens@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Public Health, Ghent University, University Hospital-Block A(2), De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Clays
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Public Health, Ghent University, University Hospital-Block A(2), De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Clercq
authors.affiliation: 2 Research Centre Social approaches of Health, School of Public Health, Université libre de Bruxelles, Campe Ersasme, Route de Lennik 808, B-1070 Bruxelles, Belgium.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casini
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Public Health, Ghent University, University Hospital-Block A(2), De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Bacquer
authors.affiliation: 2 Research Centre Social approaches of Health, School of Public Health, Université libre de Bruxelles, Campe Ersasme, Route de Lennik 808, B-1070 Bruxelles, Belgium.
authors.forename: France
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kittel
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Public Health, Ghent University, University Hospital-Block A(2), De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lutgart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Braeckman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium; D058445:Bullying; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires