title: Absenteeism due to mental health problems and systems for return to work: an internet-based unmatched case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for absenteeism due to mental health problems with regard to company characteristics and systems for return to work in Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an Internet-based unmatched case-control study. Two hundred and fifty-eight workers who experienced over 28 days of sick leave due to mental health problems (cases) and 258 workers who have not taken sick leave (controls) were recruited. Company characteristics and the awareness and presence of systems for return to work were analysed as indicators of absenteeism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 501 workers were included in the analysis. Females were less likely to experience absenteeism when adjustments were made for both the awareness and presence of systems [odds ratio (OR) = 0.51 and 0.41, respectively]. Large companies showed an increased risk of having absentee workers than small companies. The awareness of a gradual resumption system and the presence of a sick pay system were related to absenteeism (OR = 2.75 and 2.40, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The awareness and presence of systems for return to work are related to the long-term absenteeism. The predictors of sex and company size are also related to the experience of the long-term absenteeism. To understand the effect of systems for return to work on absenteeism due to mental problems, further studies are needed.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Shotaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doki
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. s-sshara@md.tsukuba.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasahara
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.|International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Ichiyo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Matsuzaki
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D062707:Return to Work / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Absenteeism; Company regulation; Return to work; Risk factors; Sickness absence