Effects of Job Strains on Absenteeism from Work

직업성 긴장과 근로자 결근

  • Cha, Bong-Suk (Department of Preventive Medicine and Institute of Occupational Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine) ;
  • Chang, Sei-Jin (Department of Preventive Medicine and Institute of Occupational Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine) ;
  • Choi, Hong-Ryul (Institute of Occupational Medicine, Okpo Daewoo Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Hyong-Sik (Institute of Occupational Medicine, Okpo Daewoo Hospital) ;
  • Koh, Sang-Baek (Institute of Occupational Medicine, Okpo Daewoo Hospital)
  • 차봉석 (연세대학교 원주의과대학 예방의학교실 및 직업의학연구소) ;
  • 장세진 (연세대학교 원주의과대학 예방의학교실 및 직업의학연구소) ;
  • 최홍렬 (옥포대우병원 산업의학연구소) ;
  • 김형식 (옥포대우병원 산업의학연구소) ;
  • 고상백 (옥포대우병원 산업의학연구소)
  • Published : 1999.12.01

Abstract

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between job strains and absenteeism from work. Methods : The study design was cross-sectional, and the study subjects consisted of 1,166 workers who were employed in the small-sized industries. A self administered questionnaire was used to measure the general characteristics, job characteristics(job demand, job control), and social support(coworker support, supervisor support) at work. The Job Content Questionnaire(JCQ) was used to assess job demand(2 items) and decision lattitude(10 items). Social support at work (10 items) was measured using JCQ. Sick absence was collected using self-report and were rechecked by the attendance record of their company. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between job strain and sick absence were estimated. The modifying effect of social support was evaluated by stratification. Logistic regression was used to estimate the relationship between job strain and sick absence. Results : In the bivariate analysis, the variables related to sick absence were age, marital status, occupation, job demand. Four distinctly different kinds of level of job strain were generated by the combination of job demand and job control: low strain group, high strain group, active group, and passive group. The crude odds ratio of high job strain was 1.78(95% CI: 1.26-2.53), and those of active group and passive group were 1.33(95% CI: 1.07-1.66) and 1.13 (95% CI: 0.88-1.47), respectively. The odds ratio of high job strain after adjusting for age and occupation were still significant The odds ratio of high job strain in low social support was 5.96(95% CI: 2.45-14.51), but that in high social support was 0.73(95% CI: 0.26-2.01). Conclusions : Job strain was associated with increased risk of absenteeism from work, and social support at work modified the association between job strain and sick absence.

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