The Relationship Between Past Traumatic Experience and Sickness Absence

Abstract

Past traumatic experiences have been reported to lower stress tolerance, thereby increasing job strain. However, the relationship between past traumatic experiences and employee sickness absence is poorly understood. This study explores the relationship between sickness absence and past traumatic experience with regard to the amount of time lapsed after the experience, job strain and other mental health states such as depression and anxiety. A total of 3238 workers were assessed for levels of traumatic stress, depressive status, anxiety and job stress. Odds ratios of the presence of traumatic experiences to sickness absence, adjusted for sex, age and depressive and anxiety states, were presented according to the length of time that had passed since the traumatic events. The odds ratio in the 0-1 Years Group was 1.75 (p < 0.05), and the odds ratio for the 19+ Years Group was 1.46 (p < 0.1). Past traumatic events are related to sickness absence. Sickness absence resulting from a past traumatic experience is important with respect to industrial health.