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01-09-2013

The Associations Between Personality Characteristics and Absenteeism: A Cross-Sectional Study in Workers With and Without Depressive and Anxiety Disorders

Authors: Moniek C. Vlasveld, Christina M. van der Feltz-Cornelis, Johannes R. Anema, Willem van Mechelen, Aartjan T. F. Beekman, Harm W. J. van Marwijk, Brenda W. J. H. Penninx

Published in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation | Issue 3/2013

Abstract

Purpose Although numerous studies have identified risk factors for sickness absence, few studies have addressed the role of personality characteristics in absenteeism. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of the Big 5 personality characteristics (neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness) and locus of control with absenteeism, taking the presence of depressive and anxiety disorders into account. Methods Cross-sectional data from the baseline measurement of the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) were examined. NESDA includes persons with current or remitted depressive and anxiety disorders and healthy controls, of which 1883 working participants were selected. Personality characteristics were included as predictor variables, short-term (0–2 weeks) and long-term (>2 weeks) absenteeism as outcome measure. The presence of depressive and anxiety disorders was considered as modifying covariate. Results In healthy workers, high neuroticism, external locus of control, low extraversion, low agreeableness and low conscientiousness were associated with short-term absenteeism. In addition, high neuroticism, low extraversion and low openness were related to long-term absenteeism in healthy workers. In workers with psychopathology, similar associations were found for persons with this profile (high neuroticism, external locus of control, low extraversion and low conscientiousness) with long-term absenteeism, but no associations of these characteristics were found with short-term absenteeism. Conclusions Personality characteristics were significantly associated with work absenteeism in both workers with and without anxiety or depression. Interventions aimed at preventing sickness absence may focus on reducing neuroticism and strengthening extraversion, conscientiousness and locus of control.

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Title: The Associations Between Personality Characteristics and Absenteeism: A Cross-Sectional Study in Workers With and Without Depressive and Anxiety Disorders
Authors: Moniek C. Vlasveld
Christina M. van der Feltz-Cornelis
Johannes R. Anema
Willem van Mechelen
Aartjan T. F. Beekman
Harm W. J. van Marwijk
Brenda W. J. H. Penninx
Publication date: 01-09-2013
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation / Issue 3/2013
Print ISSN: 1053-0487
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3688
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-012-9406-9

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The Associations Between Personality Characteristics and Absenteeism: A Cross-Sectional Study in Workers With and Without Depressive and Anxiety Disorders

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