Occupational gratification crisis and sickness absence in Germany: Cross-sectional results from the lidA-study

Abstract

Demographic change is leading to a shrinking and ageing workforce in industrialized nations. Therefore, sickness absence may become a relevant problem. Increasing absenteeism and retirement rates due to mental disorders raise the question of an association between work-related stress and sickness absence. Studies on this matter, particularly in older employees, are rare. We studied for the first time in Germany the relationship between effort-reward imbalance (ERI) and overall or long-term sickness absence. LidA ( "Living at Work") is a German cohort study on work, age, health, and work participation. A total of 6,339 employees born in 1959 and 1965 who were subject to social insurance contributions were interviewed nationwide using a representative sample concept. The response rate was 27.3 %. The sample showed high representativeness and no selectivity relating to 16 sociodemographic items. Sickness absence was defined as at least one long-term sickness absence with at least 43 days of absenteeism. Work-related stress was parameterized by ERI tertiles. Multiple logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, mental disorders, social status, and working time was performed. High levels of work-related stress were significantly associated with overall and long-term sickness absence among older employees after adjusting for covariates. Our unique findings on work-related stress and sickness absence in Germany are in agreement with the results of most international studies. Reducing work-related stress could help to preserve the workforce.