Distress, Work Satisfaction, and Work Ability are Mediators of the Relation Between Psychosocial Working Conditions and Mental Health-Related Long-Term Sickness Absence.
Marieke F A van Hoffen, Judith J M Rijnhart, Giny Norder and 2 others
PMID 33074455WHAT IT FOUND
Workers facing high emotional demands and work-family conflict were more likely to go on long-term mental health sick leave.
This link was driven by distress. Supportive resources like learning opportunities and co-worker support lowered this risk, mediated by work satisfaction and ability.
Key findings
01High emotional demands and work-family interference were significantly associated with increased mental health-related long-term sickness absence.
02Distress mediated the relationship between job demands (work pace, emotional demands, work-family interference) and mental health-related long-term sickness absence.
03Work satisfaction and work ability mediated the protective relationship between job resources (role clarity, variety, learning opportunities, support) and mental health-related long-term sickness absence.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study population was not representative of the entire Dutch workforce, with industry overrepresented and public services/agriculture underrepresented. 43% of participants were excluded due to missing data, though the authors assumed this was random. Psychosocial working conditions were measured via self-report questionnaires, which reflect subjective perception rather than objective reality. The cross-sectional nature of the baseline measures means causality between working conditions and mediators (like distress) could be reversed or reciprocal. The outcome was binary (presence or absence of long-term sickness absence), so it does not capture the duration or severity of the absence.
Declared interests
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The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the odds ratios as absolute risk increases. The overall incidence of mental health-related long-term sickness absence in this cohort was low (1.5%). While emotional demands showed a strong association, the absolute number of cases was small, and the study does not prove that reducing emotional demands will directly prevent absence, only that they are associated with it.