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Sickness absence and work strain among Danish slaughterhouse workers: An analysis of absence from work regarded as coping behaviour

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  • Kristensen, Tage S.
Abstract
This paper comprises two parts: a theoretical part in which a number of theoretical and methodological recommendations about research on absence are made on the basis of a review of selected literature, and an empirical part that contains analyses of absence from work in the Danish slaughterhouse industry. In the theoretical part it is asserted that sickness absence cannot be understood if it is viewed as a simple function of ill health or other individual factors, such as job dissatisfaction. Absence should rather be regarded as a coping behaviour that reflects an individual's perception of his/her health (illness) and is a function of a number of factors at different levels, primarily the combination of job demands and coping possibilities at the job (job strain). Several ideal methodological requirements regarding absence research are formulated on this basis. The empirical part presents an analysis of absence from work in the Danish slaughterhouse industry based on a study of 4407 slaughterhouse workers. It is shown that a number of factors at the company level, the job level and the individual level are associated with an individual's absence from work over a 12-month period. It is further shown that people with high job strain have a significantly higher absence rate, that there is a clear association between sickness absence and perceived health and that absence is part of a pattern along with other coping strategies which are directed against stressing working conditions and perceived ill health. Lastly, it is discussed whether absence from work is a functional coping strategy.

Suggested Citation

  • Kristensen, Tage S., 1991. "Sickness absence and work strain among Danish slaughterhouse workers: An analysis of absence from work regarded as coping behaviour," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 15-27, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:32:y:1991:i:1:p:15-27
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Marina Taloyan & Gunnar Aronsson & Constanze Leineweber & Linda Magnusson Hanson & Kristina Alexanderson & Hugo Westerlund, 2012. "Sickness Presenteeism Predicts Suboptimal Self-Rated Health and Sickness Absence: A Nationally Representative Study of the Swedish Working Population," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(9), pages 1-8, September.
    2. Bubonya, Melisa & Cobb-Clark, Deborah A. & Wooden, Mark, 2017. "Mental health and productivity at work: Does what you do matter?," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 150-165.
    3. Maria Michela Gianino & Gianfranco Politano & Antonio Scarmozzino & Michela Stillo & Viola Amprino & Stefano Di Carlo & Alfredo Benso & Carla Maria Zotti, 2019. "Cost of Sickness Absenteeism during Seasonal Influenza Outbreaks of Medium Intensity among Health Care Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-11, March.
    4. D.S. Possenriede & W.H.J. Hassink & J. Plantenga, 2014. "Does temporal and locational flexibility of work reduce absenteeism?," Working Papers 14-09, Utrecht School of Economics.
    5. Hansen, Claus D. & Andersen, Johan H., 2008. "Going ill to work - What personal circumstances, attitudes and work-related factors are associated with sickness presenteeism?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(6), pages 956-964, September.
    6. Magnus Helgesson & Staffan Marklund & Klas Gustafsson & Gunnar Aronsson & Constanze Leineweber, 2020. "Interaction Effects of Physical and Psychosocial Working Conditions on Risk for Sickness Absence: A Prospective Study of Nurses and Care Assistants in Sweden," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-15, October.
    7. Skagen, Kristian & Collins, Alison M., 2016. "The consequences of sickness presenteeism on health and wellbeing over time: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 169-177.
    8. Eva Sahlin & Gunnar Ahlborg & Josefa Vega Matuszczyk & Patrik Grahn, 2014. "Nature-Based Stress Management Course for Individuals at Risk of Adverse Health Effects from Work-Related Stress—Effects on Stress Related Symptoms, Workability and Sick Leave," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-26, June.
    9. Min-Jung Wang & Arnstein Mykletun & Ellen Ihlen Møyner & Simon Øverland & Max Henderson & Stephen Stansfeld & Matthew Hotopf & Samuel B Harvey, 2014. "Job Strain, Health and Sickness Absence: Results from the Hordaland Health Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(4), pages 1-9, April.
    10. Kristensen, Petter & Bjerkedal, Tor & Irgens, Lorentz M., 2007. "Early life determinants of musculoskeletal sickness absence in a cohort of Norwegians born in 1967-1976," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(3), pages 646-655, February.
    11. Hanna Hultin & Johan Hallqvist & Kristina Alexanderson & Gun Johansson & Christina Lindholm & Ingvar Lundberg & Jette Möller, 2013. "Lack of Adjustment Latitude at Work as a Trigger of Taking Sick Leave—A Swedish Case-Crossover Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(4), pages 1-8, April.
    12. Bjørn Lau & Olga Shiryaeva & Torleif Ruud & Mattias Victor, 2019. "What are they returning to? Psychosocial work environment as a predictor of returning to work among employees in treatment for common mental disorders: A prospective observational pre–post study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, April.
    13. Grund, Christian & Rubin, Maike, 2020. "The Role of Employees' Age for the Relation between Job Autonomy and Sickness Absence," IZA Discussion Papers 13945, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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