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Psychosocial working conditions and sickness absence in a general population: A cohort study of 21,834 workers in Norway (The HUNT Study)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To examine the associations between psychosocial working conditions and sickness absence.

METHODS:

Data for 21,834 employed adults from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) were linked to the sickness benefit register and sickness absence during 1 year after survey participation was analyzed with logistic regression.

RESULTS:

A one unit change on a 0 to 3 self-reported job demand scale was associated with a fully adjusted 24% and 25% increased odds of sickness absence in men and women, respectively. A one unit change on a 0 to 3 scale for self-reported support at work was associated with a fully adjusted 13% and 17% reduced odds of sickness absence in men and women, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results of this study indicate that demands, and to some extent support, at work might influence sickness absence-also when adjusting for a detailed categorization of occupations.

Category

Academic article

Language

English

Author(s)

  • Tonje Strømholm
  • Kristine Pape
  • Solveig Osborg Ose
  • Steinar Krokstad
  • Johan Håkon Bjørngaard

Affiliation

  • St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital
  • Norwegian University of Science and Technology
  • SINTEF Digital / Health Research
  • Nord Trondelag Hospital Trust

Year

2015

Published in

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

ISSN

1076-2752

Volume

57

Issue

4

Page(s)

386 - 392

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