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Sickness Presenteeism Predicts Suboptimal Self-Rated Health and Sickness Absence: A Nationally Representative Study of the Swedish Working Population

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  • Marina Taloyan
  • Gunnar Aronsson
  • Constanze Leineweber
  • Linda Magnusson Hanson
  • Kristina Alexanderson
  • Hugo Westerlund

Abstract

Background: Earlier studies have suggested that sickness presenteeism (SP) may be a risk factor for future health problems. The purpose of the present study was to test this in a nationally representative prospective study of Swedish workers. Methods: Prospective cohort with a representative sample of the Swedish working population surveyed in 2008 and 2010. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using logistic regression. Results: Those who reported more than 7 days of SP had higher risk of suboptimal SRH compared to those who reported no SP (OR = 5.95; 95% CI 4.98–7.12), also after adjustment for confounders (OR = 1.64; 95% CI 1.30–2.06). Those who reported 1–7 days of SP also had an increased risk before and after adjustments. Inclusion of self-rated physical and psychological work capacity did not attenuate the associations, whereas of emotional exhaustion attenuated the ORs to non-significance for both outcomes, indicating that the health consequences associated with SP are largely related to mental health. Conclusion: The results strengthen earlier findings suggesting that SP can be a risk factor for future suboptimal general health and sickness absence, particularly through mental health problems. This indicates that asking about SP could yield important information for employers, occupational health practitioners and GPs, possibly leading to more timely intervention that could decrease the risk of future sickness absence and more serious health problems, especially in the mental domain. Further studies of the possible causal pathways between SP and future health development are also warranted, especially since going to work is often seen as desirable also for those with poor health.

Suggested Citation

  • Marina Taloyan & Gunnar Aronsson & Constanze Leineweber & Linda Magnusson Hanson & Kristina Alexanderson & Hugo Westerlund, 2012. "Sickness Presenteeism Predicts Suboptimal Self-Rated Health and Sickness Absence: A Nationally Representative Study of the Swedish Working Population," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(9), pages 1-8, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0044721
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044721
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    1. Karanika-Murray, Maria & Pontes, Halley M. & Griffiths, Mark D. & Biron, Caroline, 2015. "Sickness presenteeism determines job satisfaction via affective-motivational states," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 100-106.
    2. Laia Ollé-Espluga & Johanna Muckenhuber & Markus Hadler, 2021. "The ‘economy for the common good’, job quality and workers’ well-being in Austria and Germany," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 32(1), pages 3-21, March.
    3. Cecilie Thogersen-Ntoumani & Julie Black & Magnus Lindwall & Anna Whittaker & George M. Balanos, 2017. "Presenteeism, stress resilience, and physical activity in older manual workers: a person-centred analysis," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 385-396, December.
    4. Philippe Askenazy & Damien Cartron, 2020. "When Preventing Absenteeism Fuels Long‐Sickness Leave: The Case of a Leading Operator for Local Transport Services," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 58(1), pages 199-223, March.
    5. Skagen, Kristian & Collins, Alison M., 2016. "The consequences of sickness presenteeism on health and wellbeing over time: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 169-177.
    6. Thomas Leoni, 2015. "Wirkmodell Krankenstand," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 58579.
    7. Tomoko Suzuki & Koichi Miyaki & Yasuharu Sasaki & Yixuan Song & Akizumi Tsutsumi & Norito Kawakami & Akihito Shimazu & Masaya Takahashi & Akiomi Inoue & Sumiko Kurioka & Takuro Shimbo, 2014. "Optimal Cutoff Values of WHO-HPQ Presenteeism Scores by ROC Analysis for Preventing Mental Sickness Absence in Japanese Prospective Cohort," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(10), pages 1-10, October.
    8. Kathryn Hoffmann & Wim Peersman & Aaron George & Thomas Ernst Dorner, 2015. "Associations and Synergistic Effects for Psychological Distress and Chronic Back Pain on the Utilization of Different Levels of Ambulatory Health Care. A Cross-Sectional Study from Austria," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(7), pages 1-13, July.

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