A Resourceful Work Environment Moderates the Relationship between Presenteeism and Health. A Study Using Repeated Measures in the Swedish Working Population

Abstract

<jats:p>The objective of this study was to investigate if the psychosocial work environment moderates the proposed negative impact of presenteeism on future general health. We expect that the negative impact of presenteeism on general health is weaker if the psychosocial work environment is resourceful, and more pronounced if the environment is stressful. Data were derived from the 2008–2018 biennial waves of the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH). The final analytic sample consisted of n = 15,779 individuals. We applied repeated measures regression analyses through generalized estimating equations (GEE). Results from the autoregressive GEE models showed statistically significant interaction terms between presenteeism and all four investigated moderators, i.e., job demands, job control, job support and job strain. The results indicate that the psychosocial work environment moderates the negative association between presenteeism and general health and illustrates a buffering effect of the psychosocial work environment. A possible explanation for these results may be that psychosocially resourceful work environments give room for adjustments in the work situation and facilitate recovery. The results also indicate that by investing the psychosocial work environment employers may be able to promote worker health as well as prevent reduced job performance due to presenteeism.</jats:p>

The health-performance framework of presenteeism: A proof-of-concept study

“…As highlighted by Karanika-Murray and Biron (2020) , presenteeism is a dynamic process that involves an interaction between individuals, their working environment, and the broader context, and that its consequences (positive and negative) can co-occur. Our results also reflect the study by Bergström et al (2020) who showed that despite having negative effects on health in the long-term, working while ill in a resourceful environment can buffer its consequences.…”

Factores Psicosociales en el Trabajo. Trabajo Digno y Saludable en la era COVID: desafíos y oportunidades

“…As such, it is possible to facilitate movement from dysfunctional to functional presenteeism by building the right workplace climate conditions. The findings concur with research on the importance of climate for work behaviour, often over and above the job level (Karanika- Murray, Michaelides, & Wood, 2017), and on the crucial role of a resourceful work environment (Bergström, Gustafsson, Aboagye, Marklund, Aronsson, Björklund, & Leineweber, 2020). In conclusion, presenteeism behaviour is a function of the person (i.e., their inclinations, health condition, work demands, past behaviour) and their environment (i.e., the PSC climate and job characteristics).…”

Presenteeism in Nurses: Prevalence, Consequences, and Causes From the Perspectives of Nurses and Chief Nurses

“…The present findings showed that nurses' job demand was the main cause that affected their presenteeism. Therefore, it may be a reliable approach to reduce presenteeism and its cost by increasing individual job resources and psychological resources ( 37 ). Furthermore, more intervention programmes on presenteeism are suggested based on the theory.…”