A literature review on sick leave determinants (1984-2004)

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

Volumn 22, Issue 2, 2009, Pages 169-179

  Beemsterboer, Willibrord ^a   Stewart, Roy ^b   Groothoff, Johan ^b   Nijhuis, Frans ^a  

^a MAASTRICHT UNIVERSITY   (Netherlands)

^b UNIVERSITY OF GRONINGEN   (Netherlands)

Author keywords

Determinants of sick leave duration; Determinants of sick leave frequency; Literature review

Indexed keywords

ABSENTEEISM; HEALTH STATUS; HUMAN; MEDICAL LEAVE; REVIEW; WORK ENVIRONMENT; WORKLOAD; WORKPLACE;

EID: 68749116792     PISSN: 12321087     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.2478/v10001-009-0013-8     Document Type: Review

References (121)

1. Draaisma D, Smulders P. Absenteeism and the company. Leiden: NIPG/TNO; 1978 [in Dutch].
2. Soeters J. Absenteeism due to illness in the reform area South-Limburg. Maastricht: Rijksuniversiteit Limburg; 1980 [in Dutch].
3. Nijhuis F, Soeters J. Work and illness: a study of absenteeism because of illness and incapacity to work in 51 companies in South-Limburg. Maastricht: Rijksuniversiteit Limburg; 1982 [in Dutch].
4. Smulders P. Balance of 30 years sickness absence review; the results of 318 summarized studies. Leiden: NIPG/TNO; 1984 [in Dutch].
5. Grosfeld J. The predictability of individual duration of sick leave (dissertation). Amsterdam: Swets & Zeitlinger; 1988 [in Dutch].
6. Schalk M. Determinants of frequent sick leave (dissertation). The Hague: Delwel; 1989 [in Dutch].
7. Klein Hesselink D, Kruidenier H, Veerman T, Buijs P. Absenteeism explained. A literature review on determinants of sick leave and incapacity for work. Amsterdam: NIA; 1993 [in Dutch].
8. Johns G. Contemporary research on absence from work: Correlates, causes and consequences. Int Rev Ind Organ Psychol1997;12:115-74.
9. Harrison D, Martocchio J. Time for absenteeism: A 20-year review of origins, offshoots, and outcomes.JOM 1998;24:305-50.
10. Marmot M, North F, Feeney A, Head J. Alcohol consumption and sickness absence: from the Whitehall II study.Addiction 1993;88:369-82.
11. North F, Syme S, Feeney A, Head J, Shipley M, Marmot M. Explaining socioeconomic differences in sickness absence: the Whitehall II Study.BMJ 1993;306:361-6.
12. Geurts S, Buunk B, Schaufeli W. Health complaints, social comparisons, and absenteeism.Work & Stress 1994;8:220-34.
13. Stansfield S, Feeney A, Head J, Canner R, North F, Marmot M. Sickness absence for psychiatric illness: the Whitehall II Study.Soc Sci Med 1995;40:189-97.
14. Marmot M, Feeney A, Shipley M, North F, Syme S. Sickness absence as a measure of health status and functioning: from the UK Whitehall II Study.J Epidemiol Community Health 1995;49:124-30.
15. Rael E, Stansfeld S, Shipley M, Head J, Feeney A, Marmot M. Sickness absence in the Whitehall II study, London: the role of social support and material problems.J Epidemiol Community Health 1995;49:474-81.
16. North F, Syme S, Feeney A, Shipley M, Marmot M. Psychosocial work environment and sickness absence among British civil servants: the Whitehall II study.Am J Public Health 1996;86:332-40.
17. Stansfield S, Fuhrer R, Head J, Ferrie J, Shipley M. Work and psychiatric disorder in the Whitehall II study.J Psychosom Res 1997;43:73-81.
18. Feeney A, North F, Head J, Canner R, Marmot M. Socioeconomic and sex differentials in reason for sickness absence from the Whitehall II Study.Occup Environ Med 1998;55:91-8.
19. Niedhammer I, Bugel I, Goldberg M, Leclerc A, Gueguen A. Psychosicial factors at work and sickness absence in the Gazel cohort: a prospective study.Occup Environ Med 1998;55:735-41.
20. Melchior M, Niedhammer I, Berkman L, Goldberg M. Do psychosocial work factors and social relations exert independent effects on sickness absence? A six-year prospective study of the Gazel cohort.J Epidemiol Community Health 2003;57:285-293.
21. Moreau M, Valente F, Mak R, Pelfrene E, De Smet P, De Backer G, et al. Occupational stress and incidence of sick leave in the Belgian workforce: the Belstress study.J Epidemiol Community Health 2004;58:507-16.
22. Hoverstad T, Kjolstad S. Use of focus groups to study absenteeism due to illness.J Occup Med 1991;33:1046-50.
23. Kentner M. Frequency of absenteeism value and modification by work disability data.Gesundheitsw 1991;61:26-31.
24. Hornquist J, Zar M, Hansson B. Precursors of repeated shortterm sick leave: an empiric review of some background, job and well-being characteristics.Scand J Soc Med 1993;21:164-70.
25. Reynolds S. Psychological well-being at work: is preventing better than cure?J Psychosom Res 1997;43(1):93-102.
26. SchrÃer C. Absenteeism due to stress. A study of the character of stress, support and absenteeism (dissertation). Maastricht: University of Maastricht; 1993 [in Dutch].
27. Muller C, Monrad T, Biering-Sorensen F, Darre E, Deis A, Kryger. The influence of previous low back trouble, general health and working conditions on future sick-listing because of back trouble. A 15-year follow-up study of risk indicators for self-reported sick-listing caused by low back trouble.Spine 1999;24:1562-70.
28. Virtanen M, Kivimaki M, Elovainio M, Vahtera J, Cooper C. Contingent employment, health and sickness absence.Scand J Work Environ Health 2001;27:365-72.
29. Boedeker W. Associations between workload and diseases rarely occurring in sickness absence data.J Occup Environ Med 2001;43:1081-8.
30. IJzelenberg W, Molenaar D, Burdorf A. Different risk factors for musculoskeletal complaints and musculoskeletal sickness absence.Scand J Work Environ Health 2004;30:56-63.
31. Kaiser C. Insurance medicine and the duration of sick leave (dissertation). Maastricht: University of Maastricht; 1992 [in Dutch].
32. Vahtera J, Kivimaki M, Koskenvuo M, Pentti J. Hostility and registered sickness absences: a prospective study of municipal employees.Psychol Med 1997;27:693-701.
33. Kivimaki M, Elovainio M, Vahtera J. Workplace bullying and sickness absence in hospital staff.Occup Environ Med 2000;57:656-60.
34. Kivimaki M, Elovainio M, Vahtera J, Ferrie J. Organisational justice and health of employees: prospect cohort study.Occup Environ Med 2003;60:27-33.
35. Eriksen W, Bruusgaard D, Knardahl S. Work factors as predictors of sickness absence: a three month prospective study of nurse's aides.Occup Environ Med 2004;61:398-404.
36. Vaananen A, Toppinen-Tanner S, Kalimo R, Mutanen P, Vahtera J, Peiro J. Job characteristics, physical and psychological symptoms and social support as antecedents of sickness absence among men and women in the private industrial sector.Soc Sci Med 2003;57:807-24.
37. Leigh J. Employee and job attributes as predictors of absenteeism in a national sample of workers: the importance of health and dangerous working conditions.Soc Sci Med 1991;33: 127-37.
38. Bloemhoff A, Smulders P, van Dijk F, van Wely P. Quality of work and health. The future in six scenarios.Tijdschr Soc Gezondheidsz 1993;71:1-20 [in Dutch].
39. Deursen C van, Houtman I, Bongers P. (1999). Work, private circumstances, dangerous habits and absenteeism: differences between men and women.Tijdschr Gezondheidsw 1999;77:105-15 [in Dutch].
40. Vahtera J, Pentti J, Uutela A. The effect of objective job demands on registered sickness absence spells; do personal, social and job-related resources act as moderators?Work & Stress 1996;10:286-308.
41. Leijon M, Mikaelsson B. Repeated short-term sick-leave as a possible symptom of psycho-social problems.Scand J Soc Med 1984;12:165-9.
42. Melamed S, Ben-Avi I, Luz J, Green M. Objective and subjective work monotony: effects on job satisfaction, psychosocial distress, and absenteeism in blue-collar workers.J Appl Psychol 1995;80:29-42.
43. Zboril-Benson L. Why nurses are calling in sick: the impact of health care restructuring.Can J Nurs Res 2002;33:89-107.
44. Virtanen M, Kivimaki M, Elovainio M, Vahtera J, Ferrie J. From insecure to secure employment: changes in work, health, health related behaviours, and sickness absence. Occup Environ Med 2003;60:948-53.
45. Virtanen P, Vahtera J, Nakari R, Pennti J, Kivimaki M. Economy and job contract as contexts of sickness absence practices: revisiting locality and habitus. Soc Sci Med 2004;58:1219-29.
46. Ala-Mursala L, Vahtera J, Kivimaki M, Kevin M, Pennti J. Employee control over working times: associations with subjective health and sickness absence. J Epidemiol Community Health 2002;56:244-5.
47. Heaney C, Clemans J. Occupational stress, physician-excused absences, and absences not excused by a physician. Am J Health Prom 1995;10:117-24.
48. Geurts S. Absenteeism from a social psychological perspective (dissertation). Nijmegen: Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen; 1994.
49. Greiner B, Krause N, Ragland D, Fisher. Objective stress factors, accidents, and absenteeism in transit operators: a theoretical framework and empirical evidence. J Occup Health Psychol 1998;10:130-46.
50. Bourbonnais R, Mondor M. Job strain and sickness absence among nurses in the province of Quebec. Am J Ind Med 2001;39:134-202.
51. Otten F. Work stress and healthiness. The Hague: Statistics Netherlands (CBS); 2001 [in Dutch].
52. Buunk A, Janssen P. Social support at home and psychosocial stress at work. Gedrag & Gezondh 1987;15:147-54 [in Dutch].
53. Buunk A, Doosje B, Jans L, Hopstaken L. Perceived Reciprocity, Social Support, and Stress at Work: The Role of Exchange and Communal Orientation.J Pers Soc Psychol 1993;65: 801-11.
54. Janssen P, Buunk B, Nijhuis F. The influence of social support regarding relative deprivation and stress in higher educated men. A comparison of three age-groups. Gedrag en Organisatie 1994;7:71-89 [in Dutch].
55. Geurts S, Schaufeli W, Rutte C. Absenteeism, turnover intention and inequity in the employment relationship. Work & Stress 1999;13:253-67.
56. Kivimaki M, Sutinen R, Elovainio M, Vahtera J, Rasanen K, Toyry S, et al. Sickness absence in hospital physicians: 2 year follow up study on determinants. Occup Environ Med 2001;58:61-6.
57. Szubert Z, Makowiec-Dabrowska T, Sobala W. Health-related absenteeism among workers employed in various work environments. Med Pr 1990;50:89-118 [in Polish].
58. Ekberg K, Wildhagen I. Long-term sickness absence due to musculoskeletal disorders: the necessary intervention of 'work conditions'. Scand J Rehabil Med 1996;28(1):39-47.
59. Milton D, Glencross P, Walters M. Risk of sick leave associated with outdoor air supply frequency humidification, and occupant complaints.Indoor Air 2000;10:212-21.
60. Wargocki P, Sundell J, Bischof W, Brundett G, Fanger P, Gyntell F, et al. Ventilation and health in non-industrial indoor environments: report from a European multidisciplinary scientific consensus meeting (EUROVEN). Indoor Air 2002;12:113-28.
61. Hopstaken L. Deliberately. Absenteeism as reasoned behaviour (dissertation). Groningen: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen; 1994 [in Dutch].
62. Jacobson B, Aldane S, Goetzel R, Vardell K, Adams T, Pietras R. The relationship between perceived stress and self-reported illness-related absenteeism. Am J Health Prom 1996;11: 54-61.
63. Schechter J, Green L, Olsen L, Kruse K, Cargo M. Application of Karasek's demand/control model in a Canadian occupational setting including shift workers during a period of reorganization and downsizing. Am J Health Prom 1997;11: 394-9.
64. Feuerstein M, Berkowitz S, Haufler A, Lopez M, Huang G. Working with low back pain: workplace and individual determinants or limited duty and lost time. Am J Ind Med 2001;40: 627-38.
65. Voss M, Floderus B, Diderichsen F. Changes in sickness absenteeism following the introduction of a qualifying day for sickness benefit findings from Sweden Post. Scand J Public Health 2001;29:166-74.
66. Houtman I, Bongers P, Smulders P, Kompier M. Psychosocial stressors at work and musculoskeletal problems. Scand J Work Environ Health 1994;20:139-45.
67. Dewa C, Lin E. Chronic physical illness, psychiatric disorder and disability at the workplace. Soc Sci Med 2000;51:41-50.
68. Moncrieff J, Pomerleau J. Trends in sickness benefits in Great Britain and the contribution of mental disorders. J Public Health Med 2000;22:59-67.
69. Savikko A, Alexanderson K, Hensing G. Do mental health problems increase sickness absence due to other diseases?Soc Psychiatry Psychiatric Epidemiol 2001;36:310-6.
70. Bass A, Bharucha-Reid R, Delaplane-Harris K, Schork M, Kaufmann R, McCann D, et al. Employee drug use, demographic characteristics, work reactions, and absenteeism. J Occup Health Psychol 1996;1:92-9.
71. Arola H, Pitkanen M, Nygard C, Huhtala H, Manka M. The connection between age, job control and sickness absences among Finnish workers. Occup Med (Lond) 2003;53:229-30.
72. Alexanderson K, Leijon M, Akerlind I, Rydh H, Bjurulf P. Epidemiology of sickness absence in a Swedish county in 1985, 1986 and 1987. A three year longitudinal study with focus on gender, age and occupation. Scand J Soc Med 1994;22:27-34.
73. Mastekaasa A. Parenthood, gender and sickness absence. Soc Sci Med 2000;50:1827-42.
74. Hensing G, Alexanderson K. The association between sex segregation, working conditions and sickness absence among employed women. Occup Environ Med 2004;61(2):e7.
75. Isacsson A, Hanson B, Janzon L, Kugelberg G. The epidemiology of sick leave in an urban population in Malmoe, Sweden. Scand J Soc Med 1992;20:234-9.
76. Jenkins R, Harvey S, Butler T, Thomas R. A six year longitudinal study of the occupational consequences of drinking over 'safe limits' of alcohol. Br J Ind Med 1992;49:369-74.
77. Ryan J, Zwerling C, Orav E. Occupational risks associated with cigarette smoking: a prospective study. Am J Public Health 1992;82:29-32.
78. Bush R, Wooden M. Smoking and absence from work: Australian evidence. Soc Sci Med 1995;41:437-46.
79. Halpern M, Shikiar R, Rentz A, Khan Z. Impact of smoking status on workplace absenteeism and productivity. Tob Control 2001;10:233-8.
80. Dijk F van, Prins R. Occupational health care and work incapacity: recent developments in The Netherlands. Occup Med (Lond) 1995;45(3):159-66.
81. Marnetoft S, Selander J, Bergroth A, Ekholm J. Vocational rehabilitation early versus delayed. The effects of early vocational rehabilitaion compared to delayed vocational rehabilitation among employed and unemployed, long-term sick-listed people. Int J Rehab Res 1999;22(3):161-70.
82. Aronsson G, Gustafsson K, Dallner M. Sick but yet at work. An empirical study of sickness presenteeism. J Epidemiol Community Health 2000;54(7):502-9.
83. Hogelund J. Reintegration: public or private responsibility? Consequences of Dutch and Danish policies toward work-disabled persons. Int J Health Serv 2002;32(3):467-87.
84. Nordqvist C, Holmqvist C, Alexanderson K. Views of laypersons on the role employers play in return to work when sicklisted. J Occup Rehab 2003;13(1):11-20.
85. Bonsall J, Squier J, Baron C, Parker G. Effect of physiotherapy on sickness absence in industry: a comparative study. J Soc Occup Med 1991;41(4):176-80.
86. Olbrich D, Cicholas B, Klenke-Bossek H. Psychosomaticpsychotherapeutic rehabilitation of social medicine problem patients - an exploratory study of findings, follow-up and treatment outcome. Rehabilitation (Stuttg) 1998;37(1):7-13.
87. Berglind H, Gerner U. Motivation and return to work among the long-term sicklisted: an action theory perspective. Disabil Rehabil 2002;24(14):719-26.
88. Knuttson A, Goine H. Occupation and unemployment rates as predictors of long-term sickness absence in two Swedish counties. Soc Sci Med 1998;47:25-31.
89. Sharp C, Watt S. A study of absence rates in male and female employees working in occupations of equal status. Occup Med (Lond) 1995;45(3):131-6.
90. Indulski J, Szubert Z. Medical causes of female sickness absence during economic transition in Poland. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 1999;12(4):295-303.
91. Donaldson S, Sussman S, Dent C, Severson H, Stoddard J. Health behavior, quality of work life, and organizational effectiveness in the lumber industry. Health Educ Behav 1999;26(4):579-91.
92. Aldane S, Pronk N. Health promotion programs, modifiable health risks, and employee absenteeism. J Occup Environ Med 2001;43(1):36-46.
93. Petterson H, Arnetz B, Arnetz J. Predictors of job satisfaction and job influence - results from a national sample of Swedish nurses. Psychother Psychosom 1995;64:9-19.
94. Arts S, Kerkstra A, Zee J van der, Huyer Abu-Saad H. Workload, capacity for coping and psychological and physical outcomes amongst home helps in the Netherlands. Health Soc Care Community 1999;7(2):79-90.
95. Allgood C, O'Rourke K, VanDerslice J, Hardy M. Job satisfaction among nursing staff in a military health care facility. Mil Med 2000;165(10):757-61.
96. Wright D, Beard M, Edington D. Association of health risks with the cost of time away from work. J Occup Environ Med 2002;44(12):1126-34.
97. Andrea H, Beurskens A, Metsemakers J, van Amelsfoort L, van den Brandt P, Van Schayck C. Health problems and psychosocial work and environment as predictors of long-term sickness absence in employees who visited the occupational physician and/or family doctor in relation to work: a prospective study. Occup Environ Med 2003;60(4):295-300.
98. Winnubst J, Marcelissen F, Kleber R. Effects of social support in the stressor-strain-relationship: a Dutch sample. Soc Sci Med 1982;16(4):475-82.
99. Marcelissen F, Winnubst J, Buunk B, Wolff C. Social support and occupational stress: a causal analysis. Soc Sci Med 1988;26(3):365-73.
100. Unden A-L. Social support at work and its relationship to absenteeism. Work & Stress 1996;10(1):46-61.
101. Peter R, Siegrist J. Chronic work stress, sickness absence, and hypertension of middle managers: general or specific sociological explanations?Soc Sci Med 1997;45(7):1111-20.
102. Karasek R. Lower health risk with increased job control among white collar workers. J Organ Behav 1990;11:171-85.
103. Shain M. The role of the workplace in the production and containment of health costs: the case of stress-related disorders. Int J Health Care Qual Assur Inc Leadersh Health Serv 1999;12(2-3):i-vii.
104. Boedeker W. Effect of occupationally related stress on diagnosis-specific work incapacity. Soz Praeventivmed 2000;45(1):25-34.
105. Eshoj P, Jepsen J, Nielsen C. Long-term sickness absence-risk indicators among occupationally active residents of a Danish county. Occup Med (Lond) 2001;51(5):347-53.
106. Vasse R, Nijhuis F, Kok G. Associations between work stress, alcohol consumption and sickness absence. Addiction 1998;93(2):231-41.
107. Lund T, Iversen L, Poulsen K. Work environment factors, health, lifestyle and marital status as predictors of job change and early retirement in physically heavy occupations. Am J Ind Med 2001;40(2):161-9.
108. Astrand N, Isacsson S. Back pain, back abnormalities, and competing medical, psychological, and social factors as predictors of sick leave, early retirement, unemployment, labour turnover and mortality: a 22 year follow up of male employees in a Swedish pulp and paper company. Br J Ind Med 1988;45(6):387-95.
109. Grunfeld B, Noreik K. Long-term sick-leave patients in Oslo. A follow-up study. Tidsskr Nor LÃgeforen 1992;12(2):215-8.
110. Grossi G, Soares J, Angesleva J, Perski A. Psychosocial correlates of long-term sick-leave among patients with musculoskeletal pain. Pain 1999;80(3):607-19.
111. Atroshi I, Andersson I, Gummesson C, Leden I, Odenbring S, Ornstein E. Primary care patients with musculoskeletal pain. Value of health-status and sense-of-coherence measures in predicting long-term work disability. Scand J Rheumatol 2002;31(4):239-44.
112. Tsai S, Gilstrap E, Colangelo T, Menard A, Ross C. Illness absence at an oil refinery and petrochemical plant. J Occup Environ Med 1997;39(5):455-62.
113. Gjesdal S, Bratberg E. The role of gender in long-term sickness absence and transition to permanent disability benefits. Results from a multiregister based, prospective study in Norway 1990-1995. Eur J Public Health 2002;12(3):180-6.
114. Brage S, Nygard J, Tellnes G. The gender gap in musculoskeletal-related long-term sickness absence in Norway. Scand J Soc Med 1998;26(1):34-43.
115. Leijon M, Hensing G, Alexanderson K. Gender trends in sick-listing with musculoskeletal symptoms in a Swedish county during a period of rapid increase in sickness absence. Scand J Soc Med 1998;26(3):204-13.
116. Sandanger I, Nygard J, Brage S, Tellnes G. Relation between health problems and sickness absence: gender and age differences - a comparison of low-back pain, psychiatric disorders, and injuries. Scand J Public Health 2000;28:244-52.
117. Upmark M, Moller J, Romelsjo A. Longitudinal, population-based study of self reported alcohol habits, high levels of sickness-absence, and disability pensions. J Epidemiol Community Health 1999;53:223-9.
118. Upmark M, Thundal K. An explorative, population-based study of female disability pensioners: the role of childhood conditions and alcohol abuse/dependence. Scand J Public Health 2002;30(3):191-9.
119. Smith G, Athanasou J, Reid C, Ng T, Ferguson D. Sickness absence, respiratory impairment and smoking in industry: an Australian study. Med J Aust 1981;1(5):235-7.
120. Eriksen W, Natvig B, Rutle O, Bruusgaard D. Smoking as a predictor of long-term work disability in physically active and inactive people. Occup Med (Lond) 1998;48(5):315-20.
121. Natvig B, Eriksen W, Bruusgaard D. Low back pain as a predictor of long-term work disability. Scand J Public Health 2002;30:288-92.