Exploring the impact of mental and work-related stress on sick leave among middle-aged women: observations from the population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden

Objective To investigate whether mental and work-related stress predicts a one-year incidence of sick leave in a cohort of middle-aged working women.Design The 2016/17 survey was part of the Population Study of Women in Gothenburg, Sweden, with registry data information on sick leave during one year...

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Main Authors: Kirsten Mehlig, Amanda von Below, Kristina Holmgren, Cecilia Björkelund, Lauren Lissner, Ingmarie Skoglund, Magnus Hakeberg, Dominique Hange
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-10-01
Series:Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02813432.2024.2380925
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author Kirsten Mehlig
Amanda von Below
Kristina Holmgren
Cecilia Björkelund
Lauren Lissner
Ingmarie Skoglund
Magnus Hakeberg
Dominique Hange
author_facet Kirsten Mehlig
Amanda von Below
Kristina Holmgren
Cecilia Björkelund
Lauren Lissner
Ingmarie Skoglund
Magnus Hakeberg
Dominique Hange
author_sort Kirsten Mehlig
collection DOAJ
description Objective To investigate whether mental and work-related stress predicts a one-year incidence of sick leave in a cohort of middle-aged working women.Design The 2016/17 survey was part of the Population Study of Women in Gothenburg, Sweden, with registry data information on sick leave during one year pre- and post-baseline.Subjects A cohort of women aged 38 and 50 in 2016/17 (n = 573; 68% participation), of which 504 women were gainfully employed and not on sick leave ± 2 weeks around baseline examination; 493 women had complete data on stress exposure.Methods We studied associations between self-assessed mental and work-related stress and incident sick leave of >14 days during the year following the baseline examination. We used multiple logistic regression, adjusting for age and previous sick leave, and additionally for sleep quality, well-being, and physical activity.Results Overall, 75 women (16%) experienced at least one period of sick leave after baseline. Permanent stress during the last five years almost tripled the risk for incident sick leave, OR = 2.8 (95% CI 1.2–6.3), independent of previous sick leave, OR = 2.3 (95% CI 1.3–4.2). Among 21 specific work-related problems, conflicts at work, OR = 2.2 (95% CI 1.3–3.6), and low decision latitude, OR = 1.7 (95% CI 1.0–2.9), were associated with incident sick leave. The association with conflicts at work remained upon further covariate adjustment.Conclusion Low decision latitude and conflicts at work are risk factors for incident sick leave among working women. The impact of conflicts at work, irrespective of own involvement, may indicate a specific vulnerability among women of interest for future interventions.
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spelling doaj-art-a96da62185b844e49b20630b935cd08b2024-11-09T03:17:44ZengTaylor & Francis GroupScandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care0281-34321502-77242024-10-0142470471310.1080/02813432.2024.2380925Exploring the impact of mental and work-related stress on sick leave among middle-aged women: observations from the population study of women in Gothenburg, SwedenKirsten Mehlig0Amanda von Below1Kristina Holmgren2Cecilia Björkelund3Lauren Lissner4Ingmarie Skoglund5Magnus Hakeberg6Dominique Hange7School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SwedenGeneral Practice/Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SwedenUnit of Occupational Therapy, Department of Health and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SwedenGeneral Practice/Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SwedenSchool of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SwedenGeneral Practice/Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SwedenInstitute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of GothenburgGeneral Practice/Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SwedenObjective To investigate whether mental and work-related stress predicts a one-year incidence of sick leave in a cohort of middle-aged working women.Design The 2016/17 survey was part of the Population Study of Women in Gothenburg, Sweden, with registry data information on sick leave during one year pre- and post-baseline.Subjects A cohort of women aged 38 and 50 in 2016/17 (n = 573; 68% participation), of which 504 women were gainfully employed and not on sick leave ± 2 weeks around baseline examination; 493 women had complete data on stress exposure.Methods We studied associations between self-assessed mental and work-related stress and incident sick leave of >14 days during the year following the baseline examination. We used multiple logistic regression, adjusting for age and previous sick leave, and additionally for sleep quality, well-being, and physical activity.Results Overall, 75 women (16%) experienced at least one period of sick leave after baseline. Permanent stress during the last five years almost tripled the risk for incident sick leave, OR = 2.8 (95% CI 1.2–6.3), independent of previous sick leave, OR = 2.3 (95% CI 1.3–4.2). Among 21 specific work-related problems, conflicts at work, OR = 2.2 (95% CI 1.3–3.6), and low decision latitude, OR = 1.7 (95% CI 1.0–2.9), were associated with incident sick leave. The association with conflicts at work remained upon further covariate adjustment.Conclusion Low decision latitude and conflicts at work are risk factors for incident sick leave among working women. The impact of conflicts at work, irrespective of own involvement, may indicate a specific vulnerability among women of interest for future interventions.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02813432.2024.2380925Mental stresspopulation studysick leavewomenwork-related stress
spellingShingle Kirsten Mehlig
Amanda von Below
Kristina Holmgren
Cecilia Björkelund
Lauren Lissner
Ingmarie Skoglund
Magnus Hakeberg
Dominique Hange
Exploring the impact of mental and work-related stress on sick leave among middle-aged women: observations from the population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden
Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care
Mental stress
population study
sick leave
women
work-related stress
title Exploring the impact of mental and work-related stress on sick leave among middle-aged women: observations from the population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden
title_full Exploring the impact of mental and work-related stress on sick leave among middle-aged women: observations from the population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden
title_fullStr Exploring the impact of mental and work-related stress on sick leave among middle-aged women: observations from the population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the impact of mental and work-related stress on sick leave among middle-aged women: observations from the population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden
title_short Exploring the impact of mental and work-related stress on sick leave among middle-aged women: observations from the population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden
title_sort exploring the impact of mental and work related stress on sick leave among middle aged women observations from the population study of women in gothenburg sweden
topic Mental stress
population study
sick leave
women
work-related stress
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02813432.2024.2380925
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