Abstract
Owner/managers of small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) are an under-researched population in terms of psychological distress and the associated health and economic consequences. Using baseline data from the evaluation of the Business in Mind program, a mental health promotion intervention amongst SME owner/managers, this study investigated: (i) prevalence of high/very high psychological distress, past-month sickness absenteeism and presenteeism days in SME owner/managers; (ii) associated, self-reported lost productivity; and (iii) associations between work, non-work and business-specific factors and work attendance behaviours. In our sample of 217 SME owner/managers 36.8% reported high/very high psychological distress. Of this group 38.7% reported past-month absenteeism, 82.5% reported past-month presenteeism, and those reporting presenteeism were 50% less productive as than usual. Negative binomial regression was used to demonstrate the independent effects of socio-demographic, work-related wellbeing and health-related factors, as well as various individual and business characteristics on continuous measures of absenteeism and presenteeism days. Health-related factors (self-rated health and treatment) were the strongest correlates of higher presenteeism days (p < 0.05). Work-related wellbeing factors (job tension and job satisfaction) were the strongest correlates of higher absenteeism days (p < 0.05). Higher educational attainment, treatment and neuroticism were also correlated with more absenteeism days. SME-specific information about the occurrence of psychological distress, work attendance behaviour, and the variables that influence these decisions, are needed for the development of guidelines for managing psychological distress within this sector.
Highlights
Depression is a costly health problem in the labour force [1,2,3,4]
This study revealed the proportion of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) owner/managers reporting high/very high psychological distress and the substantial lost productive time reported by owner/managers reporting related presenteeism
Such findings highlight the value of the Business in Mind program, by confirming the need for workplace mental health promotion programs developed to reduce the incidence of sickness absence and continued work attendance, the number of absenteeism and presenteeism days reported, and the associated productivity loss in SMEs
Summary
Depression is a costly health problem in the labour force [1,2,3,4]. In addition to the health care resources required to treat it, depression impacts workers’ behavioural, cognitive, emotional, interpersonal, and physical functioning, leading to excess disability and sickness absence [5,6], and impaired work ability [7]. Despite the economic impact of depression-related presenteeism, few studies have attempted to identify which work-, non-work-, or health-related factors are associated with continued work attendance amongst workers reporting depression or related psychological distress. SMEs contribute significantly to continued global economic growth and the generation of new jobs internationally [10,11], making the promotion of organisational health and productivity in this setting is vital [12]. This could be achieved, in part, by improved management of work stress, subsequent poor mental health and related absenteeism and presenteeism. This dearth of SME-specific information has limited the development of workplace health promotion and intervention programs tailored of the needs of this sector and may explain why strategies routinely employed by larger organizations, such as mental health literacy workshops, or stress management training, are difficult to implement and infrequently adopted by SMEs
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
