M. Voss et al., Physical, psychosocial, and organisational factors relative to sickness absence: a study based on Sweden Post, OCC ENVIR M, 58(3), 2001, pp. 178-184
Citations number
33
Categorie Soggetti
Envirnomentale Medicine & Public Health","Pharmacology & Toxicology
Objective-To analyse incidence of sickness for women and men relative to po
tential aetiological factors at work-physical, psychosocial, and organisati
onal.
Methods-The study group comprised 1557 female and 1913 male employees of Sw
eden Post. Sickness absence was measured by incidence of sickness (sick lea
ve events and person-days at risk). Information on explanatory factors was
obtained by a postal questionnaire, and incidence of sickness was based on
administrative files of the company.
Results-Complaints about heavy lifting and monotonous movements were associ
ated with increased risk of high incidence of sickness among both women and
men, For heavy lifting, an odds ratio (OR) of 1.70 (95% confidence interva
l (95% CI) 1.22 to 2.39) among women, and OR 1.70 (1.20 to 2.41) among men
was found. For monotonous movements the risk estimates were OR 1.42 (1.03 t
o 1.97) and OR 1.45 (1.08 to 1.95) for women and men, respectively. Working
instead of taking sick leave when ill, was more prevalent in the group wit
h a high incidence of sickness (OR 1.74 (1.30 to 2.33) for women, OR 1.60 (
1.22 to 2.10) for men). Overtime work of more than 50 hours a year was link
ed, with low incidence of sickness for women and men, Among women, 16% repo
rted bullying at the workplace, which was linked with a doubled risk of hig
h incidence of sickness (OR 1.91 (1.31 to 2.77)). For men, the strongest as
sociation was found for those reporting anxiety about reorganisation of the
workplace (OR 1.93 (1.34 to 2.77)).
Conclusions-Certain physical, psychosocial, and organisational factors were
important determinants of incidence of sickness, independently of each oth
er Some of the associations were sex specific.