title: The impact of poor psychosocial work environment on non-work-related sickness absence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to analyse the impact of psychosocial work environment on non-work-related sickness absence (NWRSA) among a prospective cohort study, stratified using a random sampling technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Psychosocial variables were assessed among 15,643 healthy workers using a brief version of the Spanish adaptation of Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire. A one year follow-up assessed the total count of NWRSA days. Zero-inflated negative binomial regression was used for multivariate analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for covariates, low levels of job control and possibilities for development (Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.01-1.36 [men]; OR: 1.39 95% CI: 1.09-1.77 [women]), poor social support and quality of leadership (OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.11-1.50 [men]; OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.01-1.63 [women]), and poor rewards (OR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.14-1.57 [men]; OR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.01-1.66 [women]) predicted a total count of sickness absence greater than zero, in both men and women. Double presence was also significantly associated with NWRSA different than 0, but only among women (OR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.08-1.81). Analyses found no association between psychosocial risk factors at work and the total count (i.e., number of days) of sickness absences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that work-related psychosocial factors may increase the likelihood of initiating an NWRSA episode, but were not associated with the length of the sickness absence episode. Among our large cohort we observed that some associations were gender-dependent, suggesting that future research should consider gender when designing psychosocial interventions aimed at decreasing sickness absences.
authors.affiliation: Ibermutuamur (Mutua de Accidentes de Trabajo y Enfermedades Profesionales Nº 274), Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: carloscatalina@ibermutuamur.es.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Catalina-Romero
authors.affiliation: Ibermutuamur (Mutua de Accidentes de Trabajo y Enfermedades Profesionales Nº 274), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sainz
authors.affiliation: Ibermutuamur (Mutua de Accidentes de Trabajo y Enfermedades Profesionales Nº 274), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Pastrana-Jiménez
authors.affiliation: Ibermutuamur (Mutua de Accidentes de Trabajo y Enfermedades Profesionales Nº 274), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: García-Diéguez
authors.affiliation: Ibermutuamur (Mutua de Accidentes de Trabajo y Enfermedades Profesionales Nº 274), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Irízar-Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Unión de Mutuas (Mutua de Accidentes de Trabajo y Enfermedades Profesionales Nº 267), Spain.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Aleixandre-Chiva
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Quintela
authors.affiliation: Ibermutuamur (Mutua de Accidentes de Trabajo y Enfermedades Profesionales Nº 274), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Calvo-Bonacho
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Absenteeism; Cost of illness; Occupational exposure; Occupational health; Occupational risks; Psychological stress; Sick leave; Working conditions