Sleep problems and sickness absence among middle-aged employees
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether sleep problems predict subsequent sickness absence among middle-aged public sector employees. METHODS: The data included 5391 female and 1454 male employees of the City of Helsinki from questionnaire surveys at baseline in 2000–2002. These data...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health |
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| Online Access: |
https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3186
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| _version_ | 1819295226902085632 |
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| author | Ossi Rahkonen Tea Lallukka Erkki Kronholm Jussi Vahtera Eero Lahelma Mikko Laaksonen |
| author_facet | Ossi Rahkonen Tea Lallukka Erkki Kronholm Jussi Vahtera Eero Lahelma Mikko Laaksonen |
| author_sort | Ossi Rahkonen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether sleep problems predict subsequent sickness absence among middle-aged public sector employees. METHODS: The data included 5391 female and 1454 male employees of the City of Helsinki from questionnaire surveys at baseline in 2000–2002. These data were prospectively linked to the employer’s sickness absence register data, with a mean follow-up time of 4.1 years. Using Poisson regression analysis, we examined associations between sleep problems (none, rare, occasional, and frequent), as indicated by the Jenkins Sleep Questionnaire, and self-certified short (1–3 days) and medically confirmed intermediate (4–14 days) and long (≥15 days) sickness absence spells. Sociodemographic factors, working conditions, work–family interface, health behaviors, and health status were obtained from the baseline surveys. RESULT: At baseline, 21% of women and 17% of men reported frequent sleep problems. Frequent sleep problems were associated with subsequent sickness absence spells irrespective of length of absence among both women and men after adjusting for age. After full adjustment for all covariates, the associations attenuated but remained for self-certified sickness absence [risk ratio (RR) for women 1.40, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.25–1.56 and RR 1.59, 95% CI 1.24–2.03 for men], and medically confirmed intermediate (RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.17–1.52 and RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.02–1.77, for women and men, respectively) and long (RR 1.58, 95% CI 1.29–1.94 and RR 1.44, 95% CI 0.93–2.21, for women and men, respectively) sickness absence spells. Occasional sleep problems were also associated with sickness absence, but the associations were somewhat weaker. CONCLUSION: In occupational healthcare, sleep problems should be addressed to prevent their occurrence and subsequent ill-health and sickness absence. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T04:38:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cf2490d6bd244828b99681c62e409d5a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0355-3140 1795-990X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T04:38:51Z |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-cf2490d6bd244828b99681c62e409d5a2022-12-21T17:14:58ZengNordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health0355-31401795-990X2012-01-01381475510.5271/sjweh.31863186Sleep problems and sickness absence among middle-aged employeesOssi Rahkonen0Tea LallukkaErkki KronholmJussi VahteraEero LahelmaMikko LaaksonenOssi Rahkonen, Hjelt Institute, Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, Mannerheimintie 172, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether sleep problems predict subsequent sickness absence among middle-aged public sector employees. METHODS: The data included 5391 female and 1454 male employees of the City of Helsinki from questionnaire surveys at baseline in 2000–2002. These data were prospectively linked to the employer’s sickness absence register data, with a mean follow-up time of 4.1 years. Using Poisson regression analysis, we examined associations between sleep problems (none, rare, occasional, and frequent), as indicated by the Jenkins Sleep Questionnaire, and self-certified short (1–3 days) and medically confirmed intermediate (4–14 days) and long (≥15 days) sickness absence spells. Sociodemographic factors, working conditions, work–family interface, health behaviors, and health status were obtained from the baseline surveys. RESULT: At baseline, 21% of women and 17% of men reported frequent sleep problems. Frequent sleep problems were associated with subsequent sickness absence spells irrespective of length of absence among both women and men after adjusting for age. After full adjustment for all covariates, the associations attenuated but remained for self-certified sickness absence [risk ratio (RR) for women 1.40, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.25–1.56 and RR 1.59, 95% CI 1.24–2.03 for men], and medically confirmed intermediate (RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.17–1.52 and RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.02–1.77, for women and men, respectively) and long (RR 1.58, 95% CI 1.29–1.94 and RR 1.44, 95% CI 0.93–2.21, for women and men, respectively) sickness absence spells. Occasional sleep problems were also associated with sickness absence, but the associations were somewhat weaker. CONCLUSION: In occupational healthcare, sleep problems should be addressed to prevent their occurrence and subsequent ill-health and sickness absence. https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3186 healthworking conditionssleep problemsleepprospective studyhealthsickness absencehealth behaviorobesity |
| spellingShingle | Ossi Rahkonen Tea Lallukka Erkki Kronholm Jussi Vahtera Eero Lahelma Mikko Laaksonen Sleep problems and sickness absence among middle-aged employees Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health health working conditions sleep problem sleep prospective study health sickness absence health behavior obesity |
| title | Sleep problems and sickness absence among middle-aged employees |
| title_full | Sleep problems and sickness absence among middle-aged employees |
| title_fullStr | Sleep problems and sickness absence among middle-aged employees |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sleep problems and sickness absence among middle-aged employees |
| title_short | Sleep problems and sickness absence among middle-aged employees |
| title_sort | sleep problems and sickness absence among middle aged employees |
| topic | health working conditions sleep problem sleep prospective study health sickness absence health behavior obesity |
| url |
https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3186
|
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