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Job characteristics, physical and psychological symptoms, and social support as antecedents of sickness absence among men and women in the private industrial sector

Author

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  • Väänänen, Ari
  • Toppinen-Tanner, Salla
  • Kalimo, Raija
  • Mutanen, Pertti
  • Vahtera, Jussi
  • Peiró, José M.

Abstract

Most longitudinal studies on the relationship between psychosocial health resources and risks, and the employees' subsequent sickness absences have been conducted in the public sector. The purpose of this study was to find out psychosocial antecedents of sickness absenteeism in the private industrial sector. The effects of job characteristics (job autonomy and job complexity), physical and psychological symptoms, and social support (from coworkers and supervisors) on sickness absenteeism were investigated. The number of long (4-21 days) and very long (>21 days) sickness absence episodes of 3895 persons (76% men and 24% women, mean age 44 years) was obtained from the health registers of a multinational forest industry corporation in 1995-1998. A questionnaire survey on the working conditions and health of the workers was carried out in 1996. The follow-up time of the sickness absences was 1-year 9-month. Job autonomy was found to be associated with long and very long episodes in men (rate ratio (RR) in the lowest autonomy group approximately 2 times higher than the highest autonomy group), and with very long episodes of absence in women (2-3 times higher RR between the low vs. the high category). Low job complexity predicted men's very long absences (RR 1.4). Long and very long episodes were associated with physical and psychological symptoms (RR 1.2-1.7) among men and women. Lack of coworkers' support increased the frequency of very long sickness absence among men (RR 1.4), and lack of supervisor's support among women (RR 1.6). Also, some interaction effects of social support variables were observed among both genders. We conclude that the studied psychosocial factors are associated with subsequent sickness absence, and that the associations are partly gender-specific. The results showing which variables are related to employees' sickness absenteeism in the private industrial sector can be applied in human resource management and health service planning.

Suggested Citation

  • Väänänen, Ari & Toppinen-Tanner, Salla & Kalimo, Raija & Mutanen, Pertti & Vahtera, Jussi & Peiró, José M., 2003. "Job characteristics, physical and psychological symptoms, and social support as antecedents of sickness absence among men and women in the private industrial sector," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 57(5), pages 807-824, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:57:y:2003:i:5:p:807-824
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Bokenblom, Mattias & Ekblad, Kristin, 2010. "Working Conditions, Absence and Gender - a Multilevel Study," Working Papers 2010:10, Örebro University, School of Business.
    2. Maiju Kangas & Joona Muotka & Mari Huhtala & Anne Mäkikangas & Taru Feldt, 2017. "Is the Ethical Culture of the Organization Associated with Sickness Absence? A Multilevel Analysis in a Public Sector Organization," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 140(1), pages 131-145, January.
    3. Daphne Pedersen, 2015. "Work Characteristics and the Preventive Health Behaviors and Subjective Health of Married Parents with Preschool Age Children," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 36(1), pages 48-63, March.
    4. Shahrul Nizam Salahudin & Zuliawati Mohamed Saad & Shirley Ken Tzu Ting & Mohd Nur Ruzainy Alwi, 2012. "Job Characteristics And Employee Wellbeing: A Case Of Malaysian Smes," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship, Global Research Agency, vol. 2(1), pages 36-47, January.
    5. Päivi Leino-Arjas & Jorma Seitsamo & Clas-Håkan Nygård & Prakash K.C. & Subas Neupane, 2021. "Process of Work Disability: From Determinants of Sickness Absence Trajectories to Disability Retirement in a Long-Term Follow-Up of Municipal Employees," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-18, March.
    6. Eerika Finell & Jouko Nätti, 2019. "The Combined Effect of Poor Perceived Indoor Environmental Quality and Psychosocial Stressors on Long-Term Sickness Absence in the Workplace: A Follow-Up Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-13, December.
    7. Böckerman, Petri & Ilmakunnas, Pekka, 2008. "Interaction of working conditions, job satisfaction, and sickness absences: Evidence from a representative sample of employees," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(4), pages 520-528, August.
    8. Alessandra Falco & Damiano Girardi & Achim Elfering & Tanja Peric & Isabella Pividori & Laura Dal Corso, 2023. "Is Smart Working Beneficial for Workers’ Wellbeing? A Longitudinal Investigation of Smart Working, Workload, and Hair Cortisol/Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(13), pages 1-23, June.
    9. Raman Kumar & Surendra Kumar Sia, 2012. "Employee Engagement," Management and Labour Studies, XLRI Jamshedpur, School of Business Management & Human Resources, vol. 37(1), pages 31-43, February.
    10. Takashi Izutsu & Mihoko Shibuya & Atsuro Tsutsumi & Takako Konishi & Noriyuki Kawamura, 2008. "The Relationship Between Past Traumatic Experience and Sickness Absence," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 54(1), pages 83-89, January.
    11. Ågotnes, Kari Wik & Skogstad, Anders & Hetland, Jørn & Olsen, Olav Kjellevold & Espevik, Roar & Bakker, Arnold B. & Einarsen, Ståle Valvatne, 2021. "Daily work pressure and exposure to bullying-related negative acts: The role of daily transformational and laissez-faire leadership," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 39(4), pages 423-433.
    12. Hjordis Sigursteinsdottir & Gudbjorg Linda Rafnsdottir, 2022. "The Well-Being of Primary School Teachers during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-12, September.
    13. Chiara Panari & Giorgio Lorenzi & Marco Giovanni Mariani, 2021. "The Predictive Factors of New Technology Adoption, Workers’ Well-Being and Absenteeism: The Case of a Public Maritime Company in Venice," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-14, November.
    14. Böckerman, Petri & Ilmakunnas, Pekka, 2006. "Interaction of job disamenities, job satisfaction, and sickness absences: Evidence from a representative sample of Finnish workers," MPRA Paper 1800, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Kalousova, Lucie & Mendes de Leon, Carlos, 2015. "Increase in frailty of older workers and retirees predicted by negative psychosocial working conditions on the job," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 275-283.
    16. Grund, Christian & Rubin, Maike, 2020. "The Role of Employees' Age for the Relation between Job Autonomy and Sickness Absence," IZA Discussion Papers 13945, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    17. Fiona Cocker & Jan M Nicholson & Nicholas Graves & Brian Oldenburg & Andrew J Palmer & Angela Martin & Jenn Scott & Alison Venn & Kristy Sanderson, 2014. "Depression in Working Adults: Comparing the Costs and Health Outcomes of Working When Ill," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(9), pages 1-9, September.

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