title: Does Perceived Stress Mediate the Association Between Workplace Bullying and Long-Term Sickness Absence?
abstract: To examine if perceived stress mediated the association between workplace bullying and subsequent long-term sickness absence.
  
  
  
  The PRISME cohort was established in 2007 and re-examined in 2009. Questionnaire data about workplace bullying and perceived stress were obtained from 4114 individuals. Participants were followed in registers on long-term sickness absence (≥30 consecutive days of sickness absence).
  
  
  
  Workplace bullying was associated with subsequent sickness absence (odds ratio [OR] = 2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.57 to 2.65) and concurrent high perceived stress levels (OR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.86 to 2.96). A high perceived stress level was also associated with subsequent sickness absence (OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.56). Perceived stress explained 13% (95% CI: 6 to 23%) of the total association between bullying and sickness absence.
  
  
  
  The association between workplace bullying and subsequent long-term sickness absence may be partially mediated by perceived stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1014 Copenhagen K (Dr Grynderup, Dr Nabe-Nielsen, Dr Lange, Dr Garde, Dr Rugulies, and Dr Hansen); Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 2A, 1353 Copenhagen K (Dr Conway, Dr Francioli, Dr Rugulies, and Dr H⊘gh); Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Frederiksberg and Bispebjerg Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, 2400 Copenhagen NV, University of Copenhagen (Dr Bonde and Mrs Vammen); The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lers⊘ Parkallé 105, Copenhagen (Dr Garde, Dr Rugulies, and Dr Hansen); Research Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M (Dr Kaerlev); Center for Clinical Epidemiology, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, DK-5000 Odense C (Dr Kaerlev), Denmark.
authors.forename: Matias Brdsgaard
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Grynderup
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nabe-Nielsen
authors.forename: Theis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Paul Maurice
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: Jens Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bonde
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Francioli
authors.forename: Anne Helene
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Garde
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaerlev
authors.forename: Reiner
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rugulies
authors.forename: Marianne Agergaard
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vammen
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hgh
authors.forename: Åse Marie
authors.initials: ÅM
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058445:Bullying; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018582:Sick Leave; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace