A 'Balanced' Life: Work-Life Balance and Sickness Absence in Four Nordic Countries.
Little attention has been given to the relationship between work-life balance and sickness absence.



To investigate the association between poor work-life balance and sickness absence in 4 Nordic welfare states.



Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed on pooled cross-sectional data of workers aged 15-65 years from Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Norway (n=4186) obtained from the 2010 European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS). Poor work-life balance was defined based on the fit between working hours and family or social commitments outside work. Self-reported sickness absence was measured as absence for ≥7 days from work for health reasons.



Poor work-life balance was associated with elevated odds (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.80) of self-reported sickness absence and more health problems in the 4 Nordic countries, even after adjusting for several important confounding factors. Work-related characteristics, ie, no determination over schedule (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.53), and job insecurity (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.02) increased the likelihood of sickness absence, and household characteristics, ie, cohabitation status (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.96) reduced this likelihood. The associations were non-significant when performed separately for women and men.



Sickness absence is predicted by poor work-life balance. Findings suggest the need for implementation of measures that prevent employee difficulties in combining work and family life.
City University London, School of Health Sciences, Centre for Public Health Research, London, UK Division of Global Health & Inequalities, The Angels Trust-Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria. Diddy.Antai@dr.com.
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D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; D057566:Self Report; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology*; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000523:psychology; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult