Jean-Baptist du Prel1, S March, H Schröder, R Peter. 1. Institut für Sicherheitstechnik, Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Gaußstraße 20, 42119, Wuppertal, Deutschland, duprel@uni-wuppertal.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Demographic change is leading to a shrinking and ageing workforce in industrialized nations. Therefore, sickness absence may become a relevant problem. Increasing absenteeism and retirement rates due to mental disorders raise the question of an association between work-related stress and sickness absence. Studies on this matter, particularly in older employees, are rare. OBJECTIVES: We studied for the first time in Germany the relationship between effort-reward imbalance (ERI) and overall or long-term sickness absence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: LidA ( "Living at Work") is a German cohort study on work, age, health, and work participation. A total of 6,339 employees born in 1959 and 1965 who were subject to social insurance contributions were interviewed nationwide using a representative sample concept. The response rate was 27.3 %. The sample showed high representativeness and no selectivity relating to 16 sociodemographic items. Sickness absence was defined as at least one long-term sickness absence with at least 43 days of absenteeism. Work-related stress was parameterized by ERI tertiles. Multiple logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, mental disorders, social status, and working time was performed. RESULTS: High levels of work-related stress were significantly associated with overall and long-term sickness absence among older employees after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Our unique findings on work-related stress and sickness absence in Germany are in agreement with the results of most international studies. Reducing work-related stress could help to preserve the workforce.
BACKGROUND: Demographic change is leading to a shrinking and ageing workforce in industrialized nations. Therefore, sickness absence may become a relevant problem. Increasing absenteeism and retirement rates due to mental disorders raise the question of an association between work-related stress and sickness absence. Studies on this matter, particularly in older employees, are rare. OBJECTIVES: We studied for the first time in Germany the relationship between effort-reward imbalance (ERI) and overall or long-term sickness absence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: LidA ( "Living at Work") is a German cohort study on work, age, health, and work participation. A total of 6,339 employees born in 1959 and 1965 who were subject to social insurance contributions were interviewed nationwide using a representative sample concept. The response rate was 27.3 %. The sample showed high representativeness and no selectivity relating to 16 sociodemographic items. Sickness absence was defined as at least one long-term sickness absence with at least 43 days of absenteeism. Work-related stress was parameterized by ERI tertiles. Multiple logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, mental disorders, social status, and working time was performed. RESULTS: High levels of work-related stress were significantly associated with overall and long-term sickness absence among older employees after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Our unique findings on work-related stress and sickness absence in Germany are in agreement with the results of most international studies. Reducing work-related stress could help to preserve the workforce.
Authors: Anne Neumann; Enno Swart; Dennis Häckl; Roman Kliemt; Stefanie March; Denise Küster; Katrin Arnold; Thomas Petzold; Fabian Baum; Martin Seifert; Jessika Weiß; Andrea Pfennig; Jochen Schmitt Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2018-05-18 Impact factor: 3.630
Authors: Simon Götz; Hanno Hoven; Andreas Müller; Nico Dragano; Morten Wahrendorf Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2018-02-28 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: Eva Rothermund; Martina Michaelis; Marc N Jarczok; Elisabeth M Balint; Rahna Lange; Stephan Zipfel; Harald Gündel; Monika A Rieger; Florian Junne Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2018-02-06 Impact factor: 3.390