THE EFFECT OF OBJECTIVE JOB DEMANDS ON REGISTERED SICKNESS ABSENCE SPELLS - DO PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND JOB-RELATED RESOURCES ACT AS MODERATORS

This study applied Karasek's demand-control model, using sense of cohe rence (SOC), social support and job control as moderators of effects o f job demands on ensuing sickness absence spells in a 3-year follow-up of 856 municipal employees. Among men the results supported the activ e learning hypothesis. Passive jobs predicted a high number of sicknes s absence spells and active jobs predicted a low number of spells. for short spells (1-3 days), the demand-control interaction, however, dep ended on SOC. In active jobs SOC was negatively associated with sickne ss absence spells; in passive jobs no such association was found. For long spells (> 3 days), the demand-control interaction depended on occ upational level; active jobs were predictive of low absence spells amo ng blue collar men. Among women, the results supported the strain hypo thesis. The demand-control interaction, however, depended on household size. In small households, high-strain jobs predicted a high number o f spells, while no increase in spells was found in active versus low-s train jobs. Ln larger households, the number of spells correlated posi tively with increasing demands even when control was good. The demand- control interaction, however, depended on SOC al-Td spouse support. Wi th strong SOC or spouse support, absence spells in active jobs remaine d on a relatively low level, otherwise active jobs led to a high numbe r of spells. This suggests that SOC and spouse support may act as prot ective factors against female role conflicts associated with active jo bs.