Emotional Support and Sickness Absence
Author Information
Author(s): Nadine Karlsson, Elisabeth Skargren, Margareta Kristenson
Primary Institution: Linköping University
Hypothesis
Does emotional support affect sickness absence and self-assessed work ability in a middle-aged working population?
Conclusion
High emotional support is associated with more sickness absence and poorer self-assessed work ability.
Supporting Evidence
- High emotional support predicted more sickness absence spells and days.
- Previous back pain was related to poorer self-assessed work ability.
- Low psychological resources were associated with poorer self-assessed work ability.
Takeaway
Having friends and family who support you can sometimes make you take more time off work when you're sick.
Methodology
The study used a two-year follow-up with 341 working individuals aged 45 to 64, analyzing the impact of psychosocial factors and previous back pain on sickness absence and work ability.
Potential Biases
There is a risk of over-adjustment due to the strong relationship between occupation, back pain, and psychosocial factors.
Limitations
The study had a relatively small sample size and potential non-response bias, which may affect the generalizability of the results.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged 45 to 64, with a mix of manual and non-manual occupations.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.004 for sickness absence spells, 0.002 for sickness absence days
Confidence Interval
1.11-1.67 for sickness absence spells, 1.22-2.31 for sickness absence days
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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