Effort–reward imbalance is associated with the frequency of sickness absence among female hospital nurses: A cross-sectional study

Schreuder, Jolanda A.H.; Roelen, Corné A.M.; Koopmans, Petra C.; Moen, Bente E.; Groothoff, Johan W.

doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2009.10.002

« Previous Next »International Journal of Nursing Studies
Volume 47, Issue 5 , Pages 569-576, May 2010

Effort–reward imbalance is associated with the frequency of sickness absence among female hospital nurses: A cross-sectional study

Jolanda A.H. Schreuder
- ArboNed Occupational Health Services, PO Box 158, 8000 AD Zwolle, The Netherlands
Corné A.M. Roelen
- ArboNed Occupational Health Services, PO Box 158, 8000 AD Zwolle, The Netherlands
- Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
- Corresponding author at: ArboNed Corporate Accounts, PO Box 158, 8000 AD Zwolle, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 38 4554700; fax: +31 38 4537272.
Petra C. Koopmans
- ArboNed Occupational Health Services, PO Box 141, 9700 AC Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
Bente E. Moen
- Section for Occupational Medicine, Institute of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Kalfarveien 31, N-5018 Bergen, Norway
Johan W. Groothoff
- Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands

Received 13 May 2009; received in revised form 30 September 2009; accepted 4 October 2009.

Abstract

Background

Most research on sickness absence among nurses has focused on long-term work disability. Absence from work due to short-term sickness, however, is more common and frequent short absences result in understaffing and increased workload of nursing teams.

Objectives

To investigate health and work factors in relation to the frequency of short-term sickness absence among nurses.

Design

A cross-sectional study linking self-reported health and work factors to the frequency of registered sickness absence episodes in the preceding 3 years.

Settings

A regional hospital in the Dutch province Friesland employing 1153 persons.

Participants

459 female nurses working at least 3 years in the clinical wards (n=337) or the outpatient clinic (n=122) of the hospital.

Methods

Perceived general health, mental health, demand/control (DC) ratio, workplace social support, effort/reward (ER) ratio, and over-commitment (i.e. the inability to withdraw from work obligations) were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. The associations between the questionnaire results and the registered number of sickness absence episodes were analysed by negative binomial regression analysis, distinguishing between short (1–7 days) and long (>7 days) sickness absence episodes and controlling for age, hours worked, and duration of employment.

Results

328 (71%) female nurses completed their questionnaires and of these 291 were eligible for analysis. High frequent absentees perceived poorer health, had lower over-commitment scores, and reported higher ER-ratios than low frequent absentees. Esteem rewards were related to sickness absence whereas monetary rewards were not. Feeling respect from the supervisor was associated with fewer short sickness absence episodes and respect from co-workers was associated with fewer long sickness absence episodes.

Conclusions

Effort–reward imbalance was associated with frequent short sickness absence episodes among nurses. Work efforts and rewards ought to be potentially considered when managing nurses who are frequently absent from work as these factors can be dealt with by managers.

Keywords: Demands/control ratio, Effort/reward ratio, General health, Mental health, Over-commitment, Sickness absence frequency