Exploring gender disparities in sickness absence: A cross-sectional study using data from Level of Living Survey on Working Conditions, 2019
Master thesis
Permanent lenke
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3172288Utgivelsesdato
2024Metadata
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Sammendrag
Introduction: Sickness absence is a multifaceted phenomenon and over the past few decades, sickness absence has become an emerging public health concern. The determinants of sickness absence have been the subject of many international studies, and the reported risk level is consistently higher in women than men. Therefore, identifying the underlying, gender-specific causes of this increase in sickness absence is an important step toward an effective solution. Work-related mechanical and psychosocial exposures have been recognized as possible risk factors for sickness absence in the workplace. Various causes, such as musculoskeletal or psychological disorders can lead to its development and progression, which can be influenced by factors like; socio-demographics, behavioral health, workplace exposure, and organizational factors.
Method: This study had a cross-sectional design, using logistic regression to explain the gender differences in sickness absence. The data from the Level of Living survey on working conditions, 2019 survey was used in the study.
Results: The study included total respondents of 4477 men and 3883 women aged from 18 to 66 years. Women had about 1.5 times higher sickness absence rates compared to men. Work-related mechanical and psychosocial exposures and health factors were significantly associated with sickness absence. Moreover, a combined adjustment for sociodemographic factors, work-related exposures, and health factors reduced the gender difference in sickness absence by approximately 23.1% overall.
Conclusion: Despite adjusting for sociodemographic factors (age, education), work-related exposures (mechanical and psychosocial) and health factors (physical and psychosocial), gender differences in sickness absence remained unexplained. Therefore, factors that could explain the gender differences in sickness absence exist outside the dimensions of work-related exposures and health factors.
Key words: Gender disparity, sickness absence, mechanical exposure, psychosocial exposure