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Injustice at work affects work ability and role functioning: findings of a cohort study

International Journal of Public Health volume 63, pages 447–456 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Objectives

The aim was to analyze the longitudinal effects of organizational injustice (OIJ) and effort–reward imbalance (ERI) on work ability, emotional role functioning and physical role functioning.

Methods

Longitudinal data with a two-year follow-up of people previously receiving sickness absence benefits were used for analyses. OIJ and ERI were included separately and mutually in logistic regression models. Effects were tested for additivity. All analyses were additionally performed stratified by sex. All models were adjusted for sociodemographics and neuroticism.

Results

1886 participants (44.5% men, mean age: 48 years) were included. When mutually adjusted, OIJ and ERI affected work ability, and OIJ affected emotional role functioning. In stratified analyses, OIJ affected all outcomes in women, and ERI affected work ability in men. Additive effects of OIJ and ERI were not identified.

Conclusions

OIJ and ERI are important risk factors of limited participation. People with experiences of health-related and work-related impairments are in need of reliable structures and just working conditions.

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Acknowledgements

The GSPE-III and this research have been funded through the Federal German pension insurance (Az. 8011-106-31/31.104.1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Social Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany

    Katja Spanier, Elke Peters & Matthias Bethge

  2. Institute of Medical Sociology and Rehabilitation Science, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Luisenstraße 13 A, Berlin, 10117, Germany

    Elliot Michel & Friedrich Michael Radoschewski

Authors
  1. Katja Spanier
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  2. Elliot Michel
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  3. Elke Peters
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  4. Friedrich Michael Radoschewski
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  5. Matthias Bethge
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katja Spanier.

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Funding

The study was funded by the Federal German Pension Insurance (Award number: 8011-106-31/31.104.1).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethical approval

The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the Hannover Medical School (ethics vote no. 1730-2013) and the data protection commissioner of the Federal German Pension Insurance.

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Spanier, K., Michel, E., Peters, E. et al. Injustice at work affects work ability and role functioning: findings of a cohort study. Int J Public Health 63, 447–456 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-017-1056-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-017-1056-4

Keywords

  • Organizational justice
  • Effort–reward imbalance
  • Work ability
  • Role functioning
  • Longitudinal design