Income Inequality as a Moderator of the Relationship between Psychological Job Demands and Sickness Absence, in Particular in Men: An International Comparison of 23 Countries

Abstract

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate whether more sickness absence is reported in countries with higher income inequality than elsewhere, and whether the level of income inequality moderates the association between psycho-social job demands and sickness absence.MethodsOur analysis is based on the Fifth European Working Conditions Survey that compared 23 European countries. We performed multi-level regression analysis. On the macro-level of analysis we included the Gini-Index as measure of inequality. On the micro-level of analysis we followed the Karasek-Theorell model and included three scales for psychological job demands, physical job demands, and decision latitude in the model. The model was stratified by sex.ResultsWe found that, in countries with high income inequality, workers report significantly more sickness absence than workers in countries with low income inequality. In addition we found that the level of income inequality moderates the relationship between psychological job demands and sickness absence. High psychological job demands are significantly more strongly related to more days of sickness absence in countries with low income inequality than in countries with high income inequality.ConclusionsAs the nature and causal pathways of cross-level interaction effects still cannot be fully explained, we argue that future research should aim to explore such causal pathways. In accordance with WHO recommendations we argue that inequalities should be reduced. In addition we state that, particularly in countries with low levels of income inequality, policies should aim to reduce psychological job demands.

A ‘Balanced’ Life: Work-Life Balance and Sickness Absence in Four Nordic Countries

“…In agreement with previous studies, 1,32,36 women were more likely than men to report sickness absence; our findings however contrast with others. 11 Although this engendered effect is commonly blamed on the combination of paid work and domestic responsibilities among women with young children-the so-called "double burden hypothesis" 32,36 -this hypothesis has only received scanty validation.…”

“…11 Although this engendered effect is commonly blamed on the combination of paid work and domestic responsibilities among women with young children-the so-called "double burden hypothesis" 32,36 -this hypothesis has only received scanty validation. 37 Some authors argue that young children do not particularly predispose either female or male workers to ill-health; 38 rather, that being both employed and a parent actually enhances their well-being.…”

Gesundheitliche Ungleichheit im internationalen Vergleich

“…Arbeitsbedingungen wirken sich nicht in allen Ländern auf die gleiche Art und Weise auf die Gesundheit aus. So konnte gezeigt werden, dass physische und psychische Arbeitsbelastungen in hoch entwickelten Ländern stärker mit einer höheren Anzahl an Krankenstandstagen assoziiert sind als in niedriger entwickelten Länderngemessen mit dem HDI, dem Human Development Index (Muckenhuber et al 2013) und dass psychische Arbeitsbelastungen in Ländern mit geringer Einkommensungleichheit stärker mit einer höheren Anzahl an Krankenstandstagen verbunden ist, als in Ländern mit hoher Einkommensungleichheit (Muckenhuber et al 2014). Die Forschung zu den Auswirkungen psychischer und physischer Arbeitsbelastungen auf die Gesundheit im Vergleich verschiedener Wohlfahrtsstaatsregimes zeigt widersprüchliche Ergebnisse.…”

Changes in the Association between European Workers’ Employment Conditions and Employee Well-Being in 2005, 2010 and 2015

“…Knowing the potential changing associations between employment conditions and workers' well-being makes it possible to better adapt public policies, focusing first on improving the employment conditions that have larger and more stable relationships with labor well-being. In addition, those employment conditions whose relationship with on well-being vary more for circumstantial reasons [43][44][45] should be taken into account by these programmes in order to make the appropriate adaptations when these variations are expected to occur (for example, during periods of economic recession). In summary, as Morley [36] points out, if interventions are to be effective, public policies need to take into account the links and interactions between what goes on in the workplace and what is happening in society in general.…”