title: 12-year trends in occupational class differences in short sickness absence among young women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Socioeconomic differences in sickness absence are well established among middle-aged employees but poorly known among younger employees, in particular for shorter spells. We examined trends in occupational class differences in short sickness absence among young women.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were obtained from the registers of the City of Helsinki, Finland, and included female employees aged 18-34 years from 2002 to 2013. Self-certified (1-3 days) sickness absence spells were examined. Occupational class was classified into four hierarchical categories. Joinpoint regression models were used to identify major changes in sickness absence trends.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Short sickness absence increased until 2008, after which it decreased in all occupational classes except manual workers. Differences in sickness absence between occupational classes remained over time. Routine non-manuals had the highest amount of short sickness absence, while managers and professionals had the smallest amount. Manual workers had somewhat less short sickness absence than routine non-manuals and semi-professionals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The socioeconomic differences in short sickness absence were clear among young women but not fully consistent as routine non-manuals tended to have more sickness absence than manual workers. Preventive measures are needed to narrow socioeconomic differences in young women's sickness absence especially among routine non-manuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland hilla.sumanen@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Sumanen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hilla
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Lahti
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jouni
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Lahelma
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eero
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Pietiläinen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Olli
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Rahkonen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ossi
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D009790:Occupations / Q000145:classification*; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000639:trends*; D012923:Social Class; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Women; occupational health; sick leave; social class; trends