TY - JOUR T1 - Changes in working conditions and subsequent sickness absence JO - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health PY - 2014/1VL - 40 IS - 1 SP - 82 EP - 88 AU - Saastamoinen, Peppiina AU - Laaksonen, Mikko AU - Lahelma, Eero AU - Lallukka, Tea AU - Pietiläinen, Olli AU - Rahkonen, Ossi M3 - doi: 10.5271/sjweh.3379 UR - https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3379 KW - epidemiology KW - Finland KW - physical working condition KW - sick leave KW - sickness absence KW - sychosocial working condition KW - working condition N2 - '

'

OBJECTIVES ': 'The aim of the study was to examine the associations of changes in exposure to physical and psychosocial working conditions on subsequent sickness absence among ageing municipal employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland.

'

'

METHODS ': 'Changes in exposure to working conditions were assessed between baseline (2000–2002) and follow-up (2007) surveys. Register-based sickness absence information was linked to the survey data (N=3739) and followed-up from the return of the questionnaire in 2007 to the end of 2010. The study included six measures of physical and two measures of psychosocial working conditions. Negative binomial regression analysis was used to assess the associations and adjust for covariates.

'

'

RESULTS ': 'Favorable changes in physical working conditions lowered the risk for sickness absence whereas adverse changes increased the risk. Adverse changes in psychosocial working conditions only slightly increased the risk for sickness absence whereas favorable changes were unassociated with sickness absence.

'

'

CONCLUSIONS ': 'Changes in exposure to physical working conditions in particular are associated with subsequent sickness absence. Preventing an increase in exposure to both psychosocial and physical working conditions and promoting a decrease in exposure to physical working conditions likely helps reduce the risk of sickness absence.

SN - 0355-3140 ER -