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Prevention of long sick leaves, occupational accidents and disability pensions are important occupational health issues. Work- and person-related characteristics have been associated with sickness absences. In this study we examined the association between the employee´s own perception of his or her well-being at work and health effects such as sick leaves, disability pensions, and occupational accidents.
Methods
A random population of 967 civil servants participated in a survey on psychosocial factors and health at work in 2000 in Finland. Follow-up was register-based. The median follow-up time was 7.3 years. Main predictors were job well-being, work ability, health, mental well-being, GHQ-12, sense of coherence, and physical well-being. Outcomes were heath effects with an economic impact.
Results
Sickness absence was decreased by job satisfaction (RR 0.78, 95%CI 0.58-1.05), good health (0.42, 0.27-0.64), good sense of coherence (0.53, 0.36-0.79), and good work ability (0.35, 0.22-0.41). Disability pension was decreased by job satisfaction (0.47, 0.20-1.06), good health (0.32, 0.11-0.98), good sense of coherence (0.17, 0.07-0.37), and good work ability (0.09, 0.03-0.28). The number of occupational accidents was decreased by good health (0.75, 0.31-1.82), and sense of coherence (0.72, 0.34-1.52), and increased by constant musculosceletal symptoms (1.52 ,0.92-2.54). but was not associated with work ability.
Discussion
Job well-being, both in general and at work, is associated with sickness absences and disability pension. Health, sense of coherence and physical well-being seemed to be associated with occupational accident. The sense of coherence scale and General Health Questionnaire predict well sickness absences, disability pensions and occupational accidents. Individual and community interventions that aim to enhance job satisfaction and both mental and physical health seem important. Indeed, employees’ own perceptions of their job and general well-being do matter!