Fatigue and job stress as predictors for sickness absence during common infections

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of health and work-related factors as predictors of subsequent sickness absence when experiencing common infections (common cold, flu-like illness, and gastroenteritis). Self-administered questionnaire data were used (baseline n = 12,140). To...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of behavioral medicine 2005-03, Vol.12 (1), p.11-20
Main Authors: Mohren, Danielle C L, Swaen, Gerard M H, Kant, Ijmert, van Schayck, Constant P, Galama, Jochem M D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absenteeism
Adult
Cohort analysis
Cohort Studies
Common cold
Common Cold - epidemiology
Employment - psychology
Employment - statistics & numerical data
Executive function
Fatigue
Fatigue - epidemiology
Female
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis - epidemiology
Humans
Incidence
Infections
Male
Occupational stress
Prospective Studies
Questionnaires
Sick leave
Sick Leave - statistics & numerical data
Stress
Stress, Psychological - epidemiology
Stress, Psychological - psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Survival analysis
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Summary:The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of health and work-related factors as predictors of subsequent sickness absence when experiencing common infections (common cold, flu-like illness, and gastroenteritis). Self-administered questionnaire data were used (baseline n = 12,140). To perform the analysis, employees reporting common infections in the final questionnaire were selected. Employees reporting sickness absence due to common infections were compared with a group who stayed at work during an infection. Multivariate survival analysis revealed no significant effects of job demands, decision latitude, or job strain on absence in workers experiencing common infections. Low levels of commitment (risk [RR] 1.22; confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.44) and low job satisfaction (RR 1.36; CI 1.13-1.164) increased the chance of being absent during a common cold. Also, having a long-standing disease (RR 1.22; CI 1.05-1.41) and fatigue (RR 1.20; CI 1.05-1.37) increased the chance of being absent during a common infection. Having an executive function decreased the chance of being absent. We conclude that absence during a common cold is partly influenced by motivational factors in work, in contrast to more severe common infections which are more health related. Insight in factors related to absenteeism are important as a start for preventive measures to reduce sickness absence.
ISSN:1070-5503
1532-7558
DOI:10.1207/s15327558ijbm1201_2