Psychosocial work environment and registered absence from work: estimating the etiologic fraction.

BACKGROUND

Evidence is growing that an adverse psychosocial work environment increases sickness absence, but little is known on the magnitude of this problem or the impact of specific factors.

METHODS

Psychological demands, decision authority, skill discretion, social support from colleagues or supervisor, predictability, and meaning of work were assessed with questionnaires at baseline and sickness absence was followed-up in employers' registers for 1,919 respondents (response rate 75.2%, 68% women, mainly low-skilled jobs) from 52 Danish workplaces during a 2-year period. Etiologic fractions (EFs) were calculated with the most favorable quartiles as reference.

RESULTS

In the fully adjusted model, the following EFs were found: decision authority: 12%; social support from supervisors: 8%; psychological demands: 6%; and predictability: 5%. In total, the seven psychosocial factors explained 29% of all sick-leave days.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that improving the psychosocial work environment among the less favorable 75% may prevent substantial amounts of absence.