Dataset Information

Leadership Quality and Risk of Long-term Sickness Absence Among 53,157 Employees of the Danish Workforce.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine whether low leadership quality predicts long-term sickness absence (LTSA) in Denmark.

Methods

Using Cox models, we estimated the association between exposure to low leadership quality and onset of register based LTSA (more than or equal to 6 weeks) during 12-months follow-up among 53,157 employees without previous LTSA.

Results

During 51,155 person-years, we identified 2270 cases of LTSA. Low leadership quality predicted LTSA with a dose-respone pattern after adjustment for confounders. The hazard ratio (HR) of LTSA in the lowest compared with the highest quartile of leadership quality was 1.61 (95% CI: 1.43 to 1.82). Further, change from high to low leadership quality over time predicted risk of LTSA (HR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.97) compared with persistent high leadership quality.

Conclusions

Exposure to low leadership quality is a risk factor of LTSA in the Danish workforce.

SUBMITTER: Sorensen JK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7409772 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Leadership Quality and Risk of Long-term Sickness Absence Among 53,157 Employees of the Danish Workforce.

Sørensen Jeppe Karl JK Framke Elisabeth E Clausen Thomas T Garde Anne Helene AH Johnsen Nina Føns NF Kristiansen Jesper J Madsen Ida E H IEH Nordentoft Mads M Rugulies Reiner R

Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 20200801 8

<h4>Objective</h4>To examine whether low leadership quality predicts long-term sickness absence (LTSA) in Denmark.<h4>Methods</h4>Using Cox models, we estimated the association between exposure to low leadership quality and onset of register based LTSA (more than or equal to 6 weeks) during 12-months follow-up among 53,157 employees without previous LTSA.<h4>Results</h4>During 51,155 person-years, we identified 2270 cases of LTSA. Low leadership quality predicted LTSA with a dose-respone pattern ...[more]

PMID: 32324702

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Project description:Background. Decreased work ability due to mental disorders is a growing concern in Europe. We studied the role of work-family conflicts in association with long-term sickness absence due to mental disorders (LTSA-MD).Methods. Baseline data were extracted from the Helsinki Health Study for women aged 40 to 55 in full-time work in 2001 - 2002 (N = 2386). Questionnaire responses were linked with register data from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland on SA spells due to mental disorders during 2004-2010. We studied an overall question on satisfaction with combining work and family (WFS) and composite scores of work-to-family conflicts (WTFC) and family-to-work-conflicts (FTWC), and their components in association with the first certified SA spell (≥ 12 calendar days) due to a mental disorder during the follow-up. We performed Cox regression analyses with hazard ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for sociodemographic factors, work schedule, perceived mental and physical strenuousness at work, and self-rated health. First, we examined all participants, and second, only those who reported no prior mental disorder.Results. Poor work-family satisfaction (WFS) was associated with subsequent LTSA-MD, adjusting for all covariates (HR 1.60; 95% CI 1.10-2.16). Both high WTFC (1.64; 1.15-2.23), and high FTWC (1.43; 1.02-2.00) increased the probability of LTSA-MD in the full model. When participants with prior mental disorder were excluded, the association between poor WFS and WTFC with LTSA-MD retained while that between FTWC and LTSA-MD attenuated; however, two items of the FTWC were still associated with LTSA-MD: 'Family worries and problems distract you from your work' and 'Family matters prevent you from sleeping enough to do your job well'. Of the WTFC items, the following remained associated with LTSA-MD: 'Problems at work make you irritable at home' and 'Your job takes so much energy you do not feel up to doing things that need attention at home'. The experience of decreased time for work or family did not associate with LTSA-MD.Conclusions. Among female municipal employees, dissatisfaction with combining work and family and both work-to-family and family-to-work conflicts were associated with subsequent long-term sickness absence due to mental disorders.

Project description:ObjectivesThe number of sick-listed employees has increased dramatically worldwide. Therefore, many countries aim to stimulate early and sustainable return to work opportunities to obtain better health outcomes and lower costs for disability pensions. To effectively orientate resources to patients with a high risk of not resuming work spontaneously, it is necessary to screen patients early in their sickness absence process. In this study, we validate "Quickscan", a new instrument to assess return-to-work needs and to predict risks of long-term sick leave.MethodsAs part of the Quickscan validation process, we tested and compared the reliability and construct validity of the questionnaire in two different populations. First, we conducted a cross-sectional study in which the screening instrument was sent to sick-listed individuals in healthcare insurance. In a second cross-sectional study, sick-listed workers who consulted the occupational health physician for return-to-work assessment were asked to fill out the questionnaire. We compared both samples for descriptive statistics: frequencies, means and standard deviations. Reliability of the scales was calculated using Cronbach's alpha. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to evaluate the construct (factorial) validity of the studied scales using software package AMOS 24.ResultsThe screening tool was shown to be an instrument with reliable scales (except for the perfectionism and health perception patient scale) in both populations. The construct validity was satisfactory: we found that the hypothesized measurement models with the theoretical factors fitted the data well in both populations. In the first sample, the model improved for scales concerning stressful life events and showed worse fit for person-related factors. Work-related factors and functioning factors both showed similar fit indices across samples. We found small differences in descriptive statistics, which we could explain by the differences in characteristics of both populations.ConclusionsWe can conclude that the instrument has considerable potential to function as a screening tool for disability management and follow-up of sick-leave, provided that some adaptations and validation tests are executed.

Dataset Information

Leadership Quality and Risk of Long-term Sickness Absence Among 53,157 Employees of the Danish Workforce.

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Leadership Quality and Risk of Long-term Sickness Absence Among 53,157 Employees of the Danish Workforce.

Similar Datasets

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