PRECURSORS OF REPEATED SHORT-TERM SICK-LEAVE - AN EMPIRICAL REVIEW OFSOME BACKGROUND, JOB AND WELL-BEING CHARACTERISTICS

The aim of the study was to search for bivariate associations between on the one hand samples of background, job-related and well-being char acteristics, and on the other hand longitudinally recorded sick-leave in individuals with repeated short-term sick-leave. Out of altogether 123 subjects included, 113 self-rated their well-being at the onset of , and 88 also after, a supportive programme. The well-being rating cov ered experience of treatment by other people, reservation, loneliness, inferiority, tension, vulnerability, guilt. security and indolence. S ocio-demographic and job-related characteristics and attitudes were re gistered and declared at the initial contact. Correlations between the se separate sets of independent variables, and sick-leave occasions an d days in each of the two years following the contact were computed. T here was an almost complete lack of covariation between background var iables and sick-leave. Neither did job-related characteristics correla te. Only an expressed wish for a job change was vaguely associated wit h more absence days, but not with more spells. In striking contrast, a convincing consistent longitudinal pattern between self-rated well-be ing and sick-leave behaviour emerged. The poorer the well-being, the g reater the subsequent sick-leave. Yet, a major part of the sick-leave variance remained unexplained. Accordingly, other etiological factors may still interact with well-being in the comprehensive setting behind the sick-leave behaviour. In conclusion, it is to be noticed that, th e way the subject looks upon and describes himself as an independent i ndividual and the interaction with his social environment, seems to ha ve a certain bearing upon his future sick-leave behaviour in this cont ext. The outcome of the study is corroborated by similar predictive co rrelations between well-being and working capacity previously found in alcohol abusers.