Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2010

Open Access 01-12-2010 | Research article

Emotional support predicts more sickness absence and poorer self assessed work ability: a two-year prospective cohort study

Authors: Nadine Karlsson, Elisabeth Skargren, Margareta Kristenson

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2010

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

While back pain and stressful work environment are shown to be important causes of sickness absence the effect of psychosocial resources on sickness absence, and on self assessed work ability, is less commonly investigated. The aim of this study was to assess these associations in a two-year follow-up study.

Methods

341 working people aged 45 to 64, randomly drawn from the population, responded to a questionnaire at baseline and at a two-year follow-up. Poisson regression was used to analyse the association of psychosocial factors (psychosocial instruments on work environment, emotional support and psychological resources) and previous back pain (low back and/or neck) at baseline with sickness absence (spells and days) at follow-up, controlling for effects of age, sex, BMI, smoking, alcohol, occupation, disease and previous sickness absence. Logistic regression was used to study the associations of psychosocial factors and previous back pain at baseline with self assessed prognosis of poor work ability six months from follow-up. Finally, a multivariate analysis tested the independent effects of previous back pain and 3 psychosocial factors derived in a factor analysis: 1. work environment; 2. emotional support; 3. psychological resources, on work ability and absence days and spells.

Results

80% of the sickness absence spells within the last 12 months before follow-up were short-term (≤ 14 days). In the final model, high emotional support predicted more sickness absence spells (RR 1.36; 1.11-1.67) and days (RR 1.68, 1.22-2.31). Previous back pain (OR 2.56; 1.13-5.81), high emotional support (OR 1.58; 1.02-2.46), and low psychological resources (OR 0.62; 0.44-0.89) were related to poorer self assessed prognosis of work ability at follow up.

Conclusions

In a general middle aged working population high emotional support was related to more sickness absence and also poorer self assessed prognosis of work ability. Our findings suggest that both sickness absence and self assessed work ability are dependent of life outside work and can be affected by a person's close community.
Literature
1.
Vingård E: Health in Sweden: the National Public Health Report 2005. Chapter 5.6: Major public health problems--musculoskeletal disorders. Scand J Public Health Suppl. 2006, 67: 104-112. 10.1080/14034950600677113.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Karlsson NE, Carstensen JM, Gjesdal S, Alexanderson KA: Risk factors for disability pension in a population-based cohort of men and women on long-term sick leave in Sweden. Eur J Public Health. 2008, 18: 224-231. 10.1093/eurpub/ckm128.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Theorell T: I spåren av 90-talet [History, 20th century]. 2006, Stockholm: Karolinska Institutet University Press, (in Swedish)
4.
Belkic KL, Landsbergis PA, Schnall PL, Baker D: Is job strain a major source of cardiovascular disease risk?. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2004, 30: 85-128.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Stansfeld S, Candy B: Psychosocial work environment and mental health--a meta-analytic review. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2006, 32: 443-462.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Netterstrøm B, Conrad N, Bech P, Fink P, Olsen O, Rugulies R, Stansfeld S: The relation between work-related psychosocial factors and the development of depression. Epidemiol Rev. 2008, 30: 118-132. 10.1093/epirev/mxn004.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Bonde JP: Psychosocial factors at work and risk of depression: a systematic review of the epidemiological evidence. Occup Environ Med. 2008, 65: 438-445. 10.1136/oem.2007.038430.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Kivimäki M, Vahtera J, Ferrie JE, Hemingway H, Pentti J: Organisational downsizing and musculoskeletal problems in employees: a prospective study. Occup Environ Med. 2001, 58: 811-817. 10.1136/oem.58.12.811.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
9.
Waddell G, Burton AK: Occupational health guidelines for the management of low back pain at work: evidence review. Occup Med. 2001, 51: 124-135. 10.1093/occmed/51.2.124.CrossRef
10.
North F, Syme SL, Feeney A, Head J, Shipley MJ, Marmot MG: Explaining socioeconomic differences in sickness absence: the Whitehall II study. BMJ. 1993, 306: 361-366. 10.1136/bmj.306.6874.361.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
11.
North FM, Syme SL, Feeney A, Shipley M, Marmot M: Psychosocial work environment and sickness absence among British civil servants: the Whitehall II study. Am J Public Health. 1996, 86: 332-340. 10.2105/AJPH.86.3.332.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
12.
Kivimäki M, Vahtera J, Thompson L, Griffiths A, Cox T, Pentti J: Psychosocial factors predicting employee sickness absence during economic decline. J Appl Psychol. 1997, 82: 858-872. 10.1037/0021-9010.82.6.858.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Kivimäki M, Elovainio M, Vahtera J, Ferrie JE: Organisational justice and health of employees: prospective cohort study. Occup Environ Med. 2003, 60: 27-34. 10.1136/oem.60.1.27.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
14.
Niedhammer I, Bugel I, Goldberg M, Leclerc A, Guéguen A: Psychosocial factors at work and sickness absence in the Gazel cohort: a prospective study. Occup Environ Med. 1998, 55: 735-741. 10.1136/oem.55.11.735.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
15.
Melchior M, Niedhammer I, Berkman LF, Goldberg M: Do psychosocial work factors and social relations exert independent effects on sickness absence? A six-year prospective study of the GAZEL cohort. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2003, 57: 285-293. 10.1136/jech.57.4.285.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
16.
Nielsen ML, Rugulies R, Christensen KB, Smith-Hansen L, Bjorner JB, Kristensen TS: Impact of the psychosocial work environment on registered absence from work: a two-year longitudinal study using the IPAW cohort. Work & Stress. 2004, 18: 323-335.CrossRef
17.
Karasek R, Theorell T: Healthy work: stress, productivity and the reconstruction of working life. 1990, New York: Basic Books
18.
Andrea H, Beurskens AJ, Metsemakers JF, van Amelsvoort LG, van den Brandt PA, van Schayck CP: Health problems and psychosocial work environment as predictors of long term sickness absence in employees who visited the occupational physician and/or general practitioner in relation to work: a prospective study. Occup Environ Med. 2003, 60: 295-300. 10.1136/oem.60.4.295.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
19.
Allebeck P, Mastekaasa A: Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care (SBU). Chapter 5. Risk factors for sick leave--general studies. Scand J Public Health Suppl. 2004, 63: 49-108. 10.1080/14034950410021853.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Rugulies R, Christensen KB, Borritz M, Villadsen E, Bültmann U, Kristensen TS: The contribution of the psychosocial work environment to sickness absence in human service workers: Results of a three-year follow-up study. Work & Stress. 2007, 21: 293-311.CrossRef
21.
van Rhenen W, Schaufeli WB, van Dijk FJ, Blonk RW: Coping and sickness absence. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2008, 81: 461-472. 10.1007/s00420-007-0238-4.CrossRefPubMed
22.
Rael EG, Stansfeld SA, Shipley M, Head J, Feeney A, Marmot M: Sickness absence in the Whitehall II study, London: the role of social support and material problems. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1995, 49: 474-481. 10.1136/jech.49.5.474.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
23.
Kristensen TS: Sickness absence and work strain among Danish slaughterhouse workers: an analysis of absence from work regarded as coping behaviour. Soc Sci Med. 1991, 32: 15-27. 10.1016/0277-9536(91)90122-S.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Lindberg P, Josephson M, Alfredsson L, Vingård E: Promoting excellent work ability and preventing poor work ability: the same determinants? Results from the Swedish HAKuL study. Occup Environ Med. 2006, 63: 113-120. 10.1136/oem.2005.022129.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
25.
Hollman G, Kristenson M: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its risk factors in a middle-aged Swedish population--mainly a function of overweight?. Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2008, 7: 21-26. 10.1016/j.ejcnurse.2007.05.003.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Lundberg J, Kristenson M: Is subjective status influenced by psychosocial factors?. Soc Indic Res. 2008, 89: 375-390. 10.1007/s11205-008-9238-3.CrossRef
27.
Lundberg J, Karlsson N, Kristenson M: Does two-year stability for scale scores of psychosocial factors differ by socioeconomic position?. Psychol Rep. 2009, 105: 1009-1022. 10.2466/pr0.105.3F.1009-1022.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Garvin P, Nilsson L, Carstensen J, Jonasson L, Kristenson M: Circulating matrix metalloproteinase-9 is associated with cardiovascular risk factors in a middle-aged normal population. PLoS ONE. 2008, 3: e1774-10.1371/journal.pone.0001774.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
29.
Smulders PGW, Nijhuis FJN: The job demands-job control model and absence behaviour: results of a three-year longitudinal study. Work & Stress. 1999, 13: 115-131.CrossRef
30.
Marhold C, Linton SJ, Melin L: Identification of obstacles for chronic pain patients to return to work: evaluation of a questionnaire. J Occup Rehabil. 2002, 12: 65-75. 10.1023/A:1015056429505.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Karasek RA: Job demands, job decision latitude, and mental strain: implications for job redesign. Adm Sci Q. 1979, 24: 285-308. 10.2307/2392498.CrossRef
32.
Joksimovic L, Starke D, v d Knesebeck O, Siegrist J: Perceived work stress, overcommitment, and self-reported musculoskeletal pain: a cross-sectional investigation. Int J Behav Med. 2002, 9: 122-138. 10.1207/S15327558IJBM0902_04.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Undén A-L, Orth-Gomér K: Development of a social support instrument for use in population surveys. Soc Sci Med. 1989, 29: 1387-1392. 10.1016/0277-9536(89)90240-2.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Stansfeld S: Social support and social cohesion. Social determinants of health. Edited by: Marmot M, Wilkinson RG. 2006, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 147-171.
35.
Antonovsky A: Unraveling the Mystery of Health: how people manage stress and stay well. 1987, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, CA
36.
Pearlin LI, Schooler C: The structure of coping. J Health Soc Behav. 1978, 19: 2-21. 10.2307/2136319.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Skinner EA: A guide to constructs of control. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1996, 71: 549-570. 10.1037/0022-3514.71.3.549.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Skargren EI, Öberg BE, Carlsson PG, Gade M: Cost and effectiveness analysis of chiropractic and physiotherapy treatment for low back and neck pain: Six-month follow-up. Spine. 1997, 22: 2167-2177. 10.1097/00007632-199709150-00015.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Socio-economic classification (SEI). Vol 4. Reprinted 1984. Örebro: Statistiska centralbyrån (SCB)(Statistics Sweden). 1982, (In Swedish)
40.
Christensen KB, Andersen PK, Smith-Hansen L, Nielsen ML, Kristensen TS: Analyzing sickness absence with statistical models for survival data. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2007, 33: 233-239.CrossRefPubMed
41.
Hair JF: Multivariate data analysis. 2006, Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall, 6
42.
Hochberg Y, Tamhane AC: Multiple comparison procedures. 1987, New York: WileyCrossRef
43.
Best NG, Spiegelhalter DJ, Thomas A, Brayne CEG: Bayesian analysis of realistically complex models. J R Statist Soc A. 1996, 159: 323-342. 10.2307/2983178.CrossRef
44.
Brown GW, Harris T: Social origins of depression. 1978, London: Tavistock Publications
45.
House JS, Landis KR, Umberson D: Social relationships and health. Science. 1988, 241: 540-545. 10.1126/science.3399889.CrossRefPubMed
46.
Ijzelenberg W, Burdorf A: Risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms and ensuing health care use and sick leave. Spine. 2005, 30: 1550-1556. 10.1097/01.brs.0000167533.83154.28.CrossRefPubMed
47.
Hansson T, Jensen I: Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care (SBU). Chapter 6. Sickness absence due to back and neck disorders. Scand J Public Health Suppl. 2004, 63: 109-151. 10.1080/14034950410021862.CrossRefPubMed
48.
Bongers PM, de Winter CR, Kompier MA, Hildebrandt VH: Psychosocial factors at work and musculoskeletal disease. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1993, 19: 297-312.CrossRefPubMed
49.
Reiso H, Nygård JF, Brage S, Guldbrandson P, Tellness G: Work ability and duration of certified sickness absence. Scand J Public Health. 2001, 29: 218-225. 10.1177/14034948010290031201.CrossRefPubMed
50.
Alavinia SM, de Boer AG, van Duivenbooden JC, Frings-Dresen MH, Burdorf A: Determinants of work ability and its predictive value for disability. Occup Med. 2009, 59: 32-37. 10.1093/occmed/kqn148.CrossRef
51.
Sell E, Bültman U, Rugulies R, Villadsen E, Faber A, Søgaard K: Predicting long-term sickness absence and early retirement pension from self-reported work ability. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2009, 82: 1133-1138. 10.1007/s00420-009-0417-6.CrossRefPubMed
52.
Ilmarinen J: Work ability--a comprehensive concept for occupational health research and prevention [editorial]. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2009, 35: 1-5.CrossRefPubMed
53.
54.
van den Berg T, Alavinia S, Bredt F, Lindeboom D, Elders L, Burdorf A: The influence of psychosocial factors at work and life style on health and work ability among professional workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2008, 81: 1029-1036. 10.1007/s00420-007-0296-7.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
55.
Bethge M, Radoschewski FM, Müller-Fahrnow W: Work stress and work ability: cross-sectional findings from the German sociomedical panel of employees. Disabil Rehab. 2009, 31: 1692-1699. 10.1080/09638280902751949.CrossRef
56.
Martimo K-P, Varonen H, Husman K, Viikari-Juntura E: Factors associated with self-assessed work ability. Occup Med. 2007, 57: 380-382. 10.1093/occmed/kqm028.CrossRef
57.
Lillefjell M, Krokstad S, Espnes GA: Factors predicting work ability following multidisciplinary rehabilitation for chronic muskuloskeletal pain. J Occup Rehabil. 2006, 16: 543-555. 10.1007/s10926-005-9011-2.CrossRefPubMed
58.
Kristenson M: Socio-economic position and health: the role of coping. Social inequalities in health: new evidence and policy implications. Edited by: Siegrist J, Marmot M. 2006, Oxford University Press, 127-151.CrossRef
59.
Bandura A: Self-efficacy: toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychol Rev. 1977, 84: 191-215. 10.1037/0033-295X.84.2.191.CrossRefPubMed
60.
Labriola M, Lund T, Christensen KB, Albertsen K, Bültmann U, Jensen JN, Villadsen E: Does self-efficacy predict return-to-work after sickness absence? A prospective study among 930 employees with sickness absence for three weeks or more. Work. 2007, 29: 233-238.PubMed
61.
Franche R-L, Krause N: Readiness for return to work following injury or illness: conceptualizing the interpersonal impact of health care, workplace, and insurance factors. J Occup Rehabil. 2002, 12: 233-256. 10.1023/A:1020270407044.CrossRefPubMed
62.
Ferrie JE, Kivimäki M, Head J, Shipley MJ, Vahtera J, Marmot MG: A comparison of self-reported sickness absence with absences recorded in employers' registers: evidence from the Whitehall II study. Occup Environ Med. 2005, 62: 74-79. 10.1136/oem.2004.013896.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
63.
Voss M, Stark S, Alfredsson L, Vingård E, Josephson M: Comparisons of self-reported and register data on sickness absence among public employees in Sweden. Occup Environ Med. 2008, 65: 61-67. 10.1136/oem.2006.031427.CrossRefPubMed
64.
Macleod J, Davey Smith G: Psychosocial factors and public health: a suitable case for treatment?. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2003, 57: 565-570. 10.1136/jech.57.8.565.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
65.
Vahtera J, Poikolainen K, Kivimäki M, Ala-Mursula L, Pentti J: Alcohol intake and sickness absence: a curvilinear relation. Am J Epidemiol. 2002, 156: 969-976. 10.1093/aje/kwf138.CrossRefPubMed
66.
Ferrie JE, Head J, Shipley MJ, Vahtera J, Marmot MG, Kivimäki M: BMI, obesity, and sickness absence in the Whitehall study. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007, 15: 1554-1564. 10.1038/oby.2007.184.CrossRef
67.
Martocchio JJ, Jimeno DI: Employee absenteeism as an affective event. Human Resourc Manage R. 2003, 13: 227-241.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Emotional support predicts more sickness absence and poorer self assessed work ability: a two-year prospective cohort study
Authors
Nadine Karlsson
Elisabeth Skargren
Margareta Kristenson
Publication date
01-12-2010
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-648

Other articles of this Issue 1/2010

BMC Public Health 1/2010 Go to the issue

Study protocol

The @RISK Study: Risk communication for patients with type 2 diabetes: design of a randomised controlled trial

Research article

Decrease in seroprevalence of Hepatitis A after the implementation of nationwide disposable tableware use in Taiwan

Research article

Injuries to pedal cyclists on New Zealand roads, 1988-2007

Research article

What happens to ART-eligible patients who do not start ART? Dropout between screening and ART initiation: a cohort study in Karonga, Malawi

Research article

Cesarean and VBAC rates among immigrant vs. native-born women: a retrospective observational study from Taiwan Cesarean delivery and VBAC among immigrant women in Taiwan

Study protocol

The influence of a high intensity physical activity intervention on a selection of health related outcomes: an ecological approach