Perceived work stress, overcommitment, balance in everyday life, individual factors, self-rated health and work ability among women and men in the public sector in Sweden \u2013 a longitudinal study

Carita Håkansson,Agneta Lindegård,Gunvor Gard

doi:10.1186/s13690-020-00512-0

Carita Håkansson, Agneta Lindegård + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-020-00512-0

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Abstract

BackgroundThe aim was to investigate whether perceived work stress, overcommiment, balance in everyday life, individual factors and self-rated health in combination predict work ability among women and men in the public sector in Sweden.MethodsA sample was randomly selected from the employee records of the participating public health care organisation in Western Sweden. In total, 2223 employees were included and answered a postal survey twice, at a 2 year interval. The survey included questions about work ability, perceived work stress, overcommitment, balance in everyday life, individual factors and self-rated health. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for work ability were estimated using logistic regression.ResultsImbalance in everyday life and overcommitment predicted reduced work ability in women and imbalance in everyday life and low educational level predicted reduced work ability in men. However, when poor self-rated health was added to the models this was the strongest predictor of work ability for both genders.ConclusionA combination of poor self-rated health, imbalance in everyday life, and overcommitment predicted reduced work ability. This multifactorial nature of work ability should be taken into account in health promotion programmes.

Highlights

The aim was to investigate whether perceived work stress, overcommiment, balance in everyday life, individual factors and self-rated health in combination predict work ability among women and men in the public sector in Sweden
One theoretical model applied to the study of psychosocial stressors is the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model, which includes effort, reward and Håkansson et al Archives of Public Health (2020) 78:132 overcommitment [4]
This model is based on the need for reciprocity between employees’ efforts and the rewards they receive, whereby perceived stress is the outcome of an imbalance

Summary

Introduction

The aim was to investigate whether perceived work stress, overcommiment, balance in everyday life, individual factors and self-rated health in combination predict work ability among women and men in the public sector in Sweden. The sick leave rate and stress-related disorders have increased most among women working within healthcare, teaching, social work, schools, child care, and care of the. One theoretical model applied to the study of psychosocial stressors is the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model, which includes effort, reward and Håkansson et al Archives of Public Health (2020) 78:132 overcommitment [4]. This model is based on the need for reciprocity between employees’ efforts and the rewards they receive, whereby perceived stress is the outcome of an imbalance. A longitudinal study has shown that persons with effort-reward imbalance have a higher risk of reduced work ability [6]. Another study has shown associations between effortreward imbalance, overcommitment and reduced work ability [7]

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