A psychosocial theory of sick leave put to the test in the European Working Conditions Survey 2010–2015

Montano, Diego

doi:10.1007/s00420-019-01477-6

Original Article
Published: 10 October 2019

A psychosocial theory of sick leave put to the test in the European Working Conditions Survey 2010–2015

Diego Montano ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-4422-2724¹

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health volume 93, pages 229–242 (2020)Cite this article

495 Accesses
4 Citations
Metrics details

Abstract

Purpose

In the present investigation a psychosocial theory of sick leave is proposed which integrates work-related determinants, health effects of particular work characteristics, and workers’ health status. In addition, the theory explicitly formulates a series of mediators and moderators of the associations between work-related determinants and sick leave. On the basis of the theoretical assumptions and previous research findings, a series of research hypotheses are investigated with survey data.

Methods

The study is based on data from the European Working Conditions Survey 2010 and 2015 (n = 59,790). The research hypotheses are investigated by means of generalised linear mixed models within the framework of hierarchical Bayesian regression models and Markov Chain algorithms. The theory is assessed by estimating three so-called hurdle models, which take into account the excess zeros usually observed in sick leave rates.

Results

In general, the findings provide evidence of the adequacy of the theory explaining the observed variation of sick-leave rates. Several biomechanical and psychosocial characteristics of the working environment, occupation, age, and the subjective assessment of health status were found to be strongly associated with both the likelihood of being in sick leave and the length of sick-leave spells.

Conclusions

The theory and the findings of the present study may serve as a basis for the development and implementation of occupational health interventions aiming to reduce sick-leave rates in organisations.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

Aagestad C, Johannessen HA, Tynes T, Gravseth HM, Sterud T (2014) Work-related psychosocial risk factors for long-term sick leave. J Occup Environ Med 56(8):787–793. https://doi.org/10.1097/jom.0000000000000212
Article Google Scholar
Airaksinen J, Jokela M, Virtanen M, Oksanen T, Koskenvuo M, Pentti J, Vahtera J, Kivimäki M (2018) Prediction of long-term absence due to sickness in employees: development and validation of a multifactorial risk score in two cohort studies. Scand J Work Environ Health 44(3):274–282. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3713
Article Google Scholar
Atkins DC, Baldwin SA, Zheng C, Gallop RJ, Neighbors C (2013) A tutorial on count regression and zero-altered count models for longitudinal substance use data. Psychol Addict Behav 27(1):166–177. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029508
Article Google Scholar
Bains M, Munir F, Yarker J, Bowley D, Thomas A, Armitage N, Steward W (2012) The impact of colorectal cancer and self-efficacy beliefs on work ability and employment status: a longitudinal study. Eur J Cancer Care 21(5):634–641. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2354.2012.01335.x
Article CAS Google Scholar
Bandura A (1986) Social foundations of thought and action: a social cognitive theory. Prentice, Englewood Cliffs
Google Scholar
Bannai A, Tamakoshi A (2014) The association between long working hours and health: a systematic review of epidemiological evidence. Scand J Work Environ Health 40(1):5–18. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3388
Article Google Scholar
Barmby TA, Ercolani MG, Treble JG (2002) Sickness absence: an international comparison. Econ J 112(480):F315–F331. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0297.00046
Article Google Scholar
Bowling NA, Alarcon GM, Bragg CB, Hartman MJ (2015) A meta-analytic examination of the potential correlates and consequences of workload. Work Stress 29(2):95–113. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678373.2015.1033037
Article Google Scholar
Brouwer S, Krol B, Reneman MF, Bültmann U, Franche RL, van der Klink JJL, Groothoff JW (2009) Behavioral determinants as predictors of return to work after long-term sickness absence: an application of the theory of planned behavior. J Occup Rehabilit 19(2):166–174. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-009-9172-5
Article Google Scholar
Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin (2016) Sicherheit und Gesundheit bei der Arbeit 2016. Unfallverhütungsbericht Arbeit. Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin, Berlin
Commission E (ed) (2015) The 2015 Pension Adequacy Report: current and future income adequacy in old age in the EU, vol I. European Commission, Luxembourg
Cumming G (2014) The new statistics: why and how. Psychol Sci 25(1):7–29. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797613504966
Article Google Scholar
Darr W, Johns G (2008) Work strain, health, and absenteeism: a meta-analysis. J Occup Health Psychol 13(4):293–318. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0012639
Article Google Scholar
Demidenko E (2006) Sample size determination for logistic regression revisited. Stat Med 26(18):3385–3397. https://doi.org/10.1002/sim.2771
Article Google Scholar
Duijts SF, Kant I, Swaen GM, van den Brandt PA, Zeegers MP (2007) A meta-analysis of observational studies identifies predictors of sickness absence. J Clin Epidemiol 60(11):1105–1115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2007.04.008
Article Google Scholar
Eurostat: Statistics (2019) Employment and activity by sex and age - annual data (lfsi_emp_a). https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/. Accessed 8 Oct 2019
Eurostat: Structure of earnings survey 2014 (2018) Mean hourly earnings by sex, economic activity and occupation (earn_ses14_47). https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/. Accessed 8 Oct 2019
Evans-Lacko S, Knapp M (2016) Global patterns of workplace productivity for people with depression: absenteeism and presenteeism costs across eight diverse countries. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 51(11):1525–1537. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1278-4
Article CAS Google Scholar
Fahrmeir L, Tutz G, Hennevogl W (2001) Multivariate statistical modelling based on generalized linear models. Springer, New York
Book Google Scholar
Gallup Europe: 5th European Working Conditions Survey (2010). Technical report. UK Data Service. SN: 6971. https://doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-SN-6971-1
Gelman A, Carlin J, Stern H, Dunson D, Vehtari A, Rubin D (2014) Bayesian data analysis, 3rd edn. Chapman & Hall, Boca Raton
Google Scholar
Hackman R, Oldham G (1980) Work redesign. Addison-Wesley, Reading
Google Scholar
Hadfield J (2010) MCMC methods for multi-response generalized linear mixed models: the MCMCglmm R package. J Stat Softw 33(2):1–22. http://www.jstatsoft.org/v33/i02
Halbesleben JR, Whitman MV, Crawford WS (2014) A dialectical theory of the decision to go to work: bringing together absenteeism and presenteeism. Hum Resour Manag Rev 24(2):177–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2013.09.001
Article Google Scholar
Hendriks SM, Spijker J, Licht CM, Hardeveld F, de Graaf R, Batelaan NM, Penninx BW, Beekman AT (2015) Long-term work disability and absenteeism in anxiety and depressive disorders. J Affect Disord 178:121–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.03.004
Article Google Scholar
Hultin H, Hallqvist J, Alexanderson K, Johansson G, Lindholm C, Lundberg I, Möller J (2011) Work-related psychosocial events as triggers of sick leave: results from a Swedish case-crossover study. BMC Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-175
Article Google Scholar
Ioannidis JPA (2005) Why most published research findings are false. PLoS Med 2(8):e124. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0020124
Article Google Scholar
Ipsos: 6th European Working Conditions Survey (2015) Technical report. UK Data Service. SN: 8098. https://doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-SN-8098-4
Johns G (1994) Absenteeism estimates by employees and managers: divergent perspectives and self-serving perceptions. J Appl Psychol 79(2):229–239
Article Google Scholar
Johns G, Miraglia M (2015) The reliability, validity, and accuracy of self-reported absenteeism from work: a meta-analysis. J Occup Health Psychol 20(1):1–14
Article Google Scholar
Karasek R, Theorell T (1990) Healthy work: stress, productivity, and the reconstruction of working life. Basic Books, New York
Google Scholar
Kivimäki M, Jokela M, Nyberg ST, Singh-Manoux A, Fransson EI, Alfredsson L, Bjorner JB, Borritz M, Burr H, Casini A, Clays E, De Bacquer D, Dragano N, Erbel R, Geuskens GA, Hamer M, Hooftman WE, Houtman IL, Jöckel KH, Kittel F, Knutsson A, Koskenvuo M, Lunau T, Madsen IEH, Nielsen ML, Nordin M, Oksanen T, Pejtersen JH, Pentti J, Rugulies R, Salo P, Shipley MJ, Siegrist J, Steptoe A, Suominen SB, Theorell T, Vahtera J, Westerholm PJM, Westerlund H, O’Reilly D, Kumari M, Batty GD, Ferrie JE, Virtanen M (2015) Long working hours and risk of coronary heart disease and stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished data for 603838 individuals. Lancet 386(10005):1739–1746. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60295-1
Article Google Scholar
Laaksonen M, Pitkäniemi J, Rahkonen O, Lahelma E (2010) Work arrangements, physical working conditions, and psychosocial working conditions as risk factors for sickness absence: Bayesian analysis of prospective data. Ann Epidemiol 20(5):332–338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2010.02.004
Article Google Scholar
Labriola M, Christensen KB, Lund T, Nielsen ML, Diderichsen F (2006) Multilevel analysis of workplace and individual risk factors for long-term sickness absence. J Occup Environ Med 48(9):923–929. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.jom.0000229783.04721.d2
Article Google Scholar
Lesuffleur T, Chastang JF, Sandret N, Niedhammer I (2014) Psychosocial factors at work and sickness absence: results from the french national SUMER survey. Am J Ind Med 57(6):695–708. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22317
Article Google Scholar
Magnavita N, Garbarino S (2013) Is absence related to work stress? A repeated cross-sectional study on a special police force. Am J Ind Med 56(7):765–775. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22155
Article Google Scholar
Meyer JP, Stanley DJ, Herscovitch L, Topolnytsky L (2002) Affective, continuance, and normative commitment to the organization: a meta-analysis of antecedents, correlates, and consequences. J Vocat Behav 61(1):20–52. https://doi.org/10.1006/jvbe.2001.1842
Article Google Scholar
Milner A, Butterworth P, Bentley R, Kavanagh AM, LaMontagne AD (2015) Sickness absence and psychosocial job quality: an analysis from a longitudinal survey of working australians, 2005–2012. Am J Epidemiol 181(10):781–8. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwu355
Article Google Scholar
Miraglia M, Johns G (2016) Going to work ill: a meta-analysis of the correlates of presenteeism and a dual-path model. J Occup Health Psychol 21(3):261–283. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000015
Article Google Scholar
Montano D (2014) Chemical and biological work-related risks across occupations in Europe: a review. J Occup Med Toxicol (London, England) 9:28. https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6673-9-28
Article CAS Google Scholar
Montano D (2014) Upper body and lower limbs musculoskeletal symptoms and health inequalities in Europe: an analysis of cross-sectional data. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 15:285. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-15-285
Article Google Scholar
Montano D, Reeske A, Franke F, Hüffmeier J (2017) Leadership, followers’ mental health and job performance in organizations: a comprehensive meta-analysis from an occupational health perspective. J Organ Behav 38(3):327–350. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2124
Article Google Scholar
Moore ML, Nichol VW, McHugh PP (1992) Review of no-fault absenteeism cases taken to arbitration, 1980–1989: a rights and responsibilities analysis. Empl Responsib Rights J 5(1):29–48. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf01407806
Article Google Scholar
Mullahy J (1986) Specification and testing of some modified count data models. J Econom 33(3):341–365. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4076(86)90002-3
Article Google Scholar
Niedhammer I, Sultan-Taieb H, Chastang JF, Vermeylen G, Parent-Thirion A (2012) Exposure to psychosocial work factors in 31 European countries. Occup Med Oxf 62(3):196–202. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqs020
Article CAS Google Scholar
Nielsen M, Indregard AM, Averland S (2016) Workplace bullying and sickness absence: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the research literature. Scand J Work Environ Health 42(5):359–370. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3579
Article Google Scholar
Nieuwenhuijsen K, Faber B, Verbeek JH, Neumeyer-Gromen A, Hees HL, Verhoeven AC, van der Feltz-Cornelis CM, Bültmann U (2014) Interventions to improve return to work in depressed people. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd006237.pub3
Article Google Scholar
Nigatu YT, Liu Y, Uppal M, McKinney S, Gillis K, Rao S, Wang J (2017) Prognostic factors for return to work of employees with common mental disorders: a meta-analysis of cohort studies. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 52(10):1205–1215. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1402-0
Article Google Scholar
OECD (2010) Sickness, disability and work: breaking the barriers: a synthesis of findings across OECD countries. OECD Publishing, Paris. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264088856-en
Parsons T (1951) The social system. Routledge, London
Google Scholar
Pedersen J, Bjorner JB, Burr H, Christensen KB (2012) Transitions between sickness absence, work, unemployment, and disability in Denmark 2004–2008. Scand J Work Environ Health 38(6):516–526. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3293
Article Google Scholar
Peretz H, Fried Y (2012) National cultures, performance appraisal practices, and organizational absenteeism and turnover: a study across 21 countries. J Appl Psychol 97(2):448–459. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0026011
Article Google Scholar
Podsakoff NP, Whiting SW, Podsakoff PM, Blume BD (2009) Individual- and organizational-level consequences of organizational citizenship behaviors: a meta-analysis. J Appl Psychol 94(1):122–141. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0013079
Article Google Scholar
Schaie W, Willis S (eds) (2006) Handbook of the psychology of aging, 6th edn. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Google Scholar
Schneider U, Linder R, Verheyen F (2015) Long-term sick leave and the impact of a graded return-to-work program: evidence from germany. Eur J Health Econ. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-015-0707-8 (1618-7601 Schneider, Udo Linder, Roland Verheyen, Frank Journal article Eur J Health Econ. 2015 Jul 17)
Article Google Scholar
Schwarzer R (2008) Modeling health behavior change: how to predict and modify the adoption and maintenance of health behaviors. Appl Psychol 57(1):1–29. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-0597.2007.00325.x
Article Google Scholar
Spiegelhalter DJ, Best NG, Carlin BP, van der Linde A (2002) Bayesian measures of model complexity and fit. J R Stat Soc Ser B (Statistical Methodology) 64(4):583–639. https://doi.org/10.1111/rssb.12062
Article Google Scholar
Steers R, Rhodes S (1978) Major influences on employee attendance: a process model. J Appl Psychol 63(4):391–407
Article Google Scholar
Takala J, Hamalainen P, Saarela KL, Yun LY, Manickam K, Jin TW, Heng P, Tjong C, Kheng LG, Lim S, Lin GS (2014) Global estimates of the burden of injury and illness at work in 2012. J Occup Environ Hyg 11(5):326–337. https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2013.863131
Article Google Scholar
Väänänen A, Anttila E, Turtiainen J, Varje P (2012) Formulation of work stress in 1960–2000: analysis of scientific works from the perspective of historical sociology. Soc Sci Med 75(5):784–794. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.04.014
Article Google Scholar
van de Vijfeijke H, Leijten FRM, Ybema JF, van den Heuvel SG, Robroek SJW, van der Beek AJ, Burdorf A, Taris TW (2013) Differential effects of mental and physical health and coping style on work ability. J Occup Environ Med 55(10):1238–1243. https://doi.org/10.1097/jom.0b013e3182a2a5e1
Article Google Scholar
Volker D, Zijlstra-Vlasveld MC, Brouwers EPM, van Lomwel AGC, van der Feltz-Cornelis CM (2015) Return-to-work self-efficacy and actual return to work among long-term sick-listed employees. J Occup Rehabilit 25(2):423–431. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-014-9552-3
Article CAS Google Scholar
Zelieis A, Kleiber C, Jackman S (2008) Regression models for count data in R. J Stat Softw 27(8):1–25
Google Scholar
Zhang W, McLeod C, Koehoorn M (2016) The relationship between chronic conditions and absenteeism and associated costs in canada. Scand J Work Environ Health 42(5):413–422. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3583
Article Google Scholar

Download references

Acknowledgements

For the purposes of this paper, data access was granted by the UK Data Service established by the Economic and Social Research Council in the UK (https://www.ukdataservice.ac.uk/).

Funding

No funding was provided for this study.

Author information

Affiliations

Department of Medical Sociology, Institute of the History, Philosophy and Ethics of Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
Diego Montano

Authors

Diego Montano
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Diego Montano.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The author declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (pdf 1254 KB)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Montano, D. A psychosocial theory of sick leave put to the test in the European Working Conditions Survey 2010–2015. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 93, 229–242 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-019-01477-6

Download citation

Received: 19 December 2018
Accepted: 25 September 2019
Published: 10 October 2019
Issue Date: February 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-019-01477-6

Keywords

Absenteeism
Occupational health
Working conditions
Psychosocial risk at work
Health behaviour