Ulrik Lidwall1,2, Sofia Bill1, Edward Palmer1,2,3, Christina Olsson Bohlin1. 1. Department for Analysis and Forecast, Swedish Social Insurance Agency, Stockholm, Sweden. 2. Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Insurance Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 3. Department of Economics and Uppsala Center for Labor Studies, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The inability to perform productive work due to mental disorders is a growing concern in advanced societies. OBJECTIVE: To investigate medically certified mental disorder and all-cause sick leave in a working population using demographic, socioeconomic and occupational predictors. METHODS: The study population was the entire Swedish work force aged 16-64 years in December 31st 2011. The outcome was sick leave exceeding 14 days in 2012 with adjustment for 13 confounders. RESULTS: The risk of sick leave with a mental disorder is higher among women compared to men, among persons aged 30-39 and among parents in families with underage children. Employees in welfare service occupations within health care, education and social services have an elevated risk of mental disorder sick leave and constitute a large proportion of the workforce. CONCLUSION: The results support the need for improving early detection and prevention of mental disorders in the workforce. Improvements in psychosocial work environments are essential, where the higher risk in female dominated welfare occupations particularly, have repercussions on the quality of the welfare services provided for vulnerable groups in society. Better work-life balance in families with younger children could also mitigate the effects of a high total workload in that particular phase of life.
BACKGROUND: The inability to perform productive work due to mental disorders is a growing concern in advanced societies. OBJECTIVE: To investigate medically certified mental disorder and all-cause sick leave in a working population using demographic, socioeconomic and occupational predictors. METHODS: The study population was the entire Swedish work force aged 16-64 years in December 31st 2011. The outcome was sick leave exceeding 14 days in 2012 with adjustment for 13 confounders. RESULTS: The risk of sick leave with a mental disorder is higher among women compared to men, among persons aged 30-39 and among parents in families with underage children. Employees in welfare service occupations within health care, education and social services have an elevated risk of mental disorder sick leave and constitute a large proportion of the workforce. CONCLUSION: The results support the need for improving early detection and prevention of mental disorders in the workforce. Improvements in psychosocial work environments are essential, where the higher risk in female dominated welfare occupations particularly, have repercussions on the quality of the welfare services provided for vulnerable groups in society. Better work-life balance in families with younger children could also mitigate the effects of a high total workload in that particular phase of life.
Authors: Nikolaos Koutsouleris; Lana Kambeitz-Ilankovic; Stephan Ruhrmann; Marlene Rosen; Anne Ruef; Dominic B Dwyer; Marco Paolini; Katharine Chisholm; Joseph Kambeitz; Theresa Haidl; André Schmidt; John Gillam; Frauke Schultze-Lutter; Peter Falkai; Maximilian Reiser; Anita Riecher-Rössler; Rachel Upthegrove; Jarmo Hietala; Raimo K R Salokangas; Christos Pantelis; Eva Meisenzahl; Stephen J Wood; Dirk Beque; Paolo Brambilla; Stefan Borgwardt Journal: JAMA Psychiatry Date: 2018-11-01 Impact factor: 21.596
Authors: Charlotte Björkenstam; Krisztina D László; Cecilia Orellana; Ulrik Lidwall; Petra Lindfors; Margaretha Voss; Pia Svedberg; Kristina Alexanderson Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2020-05-14 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Jaakko Harkko; Hilla Nordquist; Olli Pietiläinen; Kustaa Piha; Minna Mänty; Tea Lallukka; Ossi Rahkonen; Anne Kouvonen Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2021-06-06 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: Noora Heinonen; Tea Lallukka; Jouni Lahti; Olli Pietiläinen; Hilla Nordquist; Minna Mänty; Anu Katainen; Anne Kouvonen Journal: J Occup Environ Med Date: 2022-02-01 Impact factor: 2.162