Death or Illness of a Family Member, Violence, Interpersonal Conflict, and Financial Difficulties as Predictors of Sickness Absence

Longitudinal Cohort Study on Psychological and Behavioral Links

Bibliographic Data

ID19306643
AuthorsMika Kivimäki (0000-0002-4699-5627, University of Helsinki), Jussi Vahtera (0000-0002-6036-061X, University of Helsinki), Marko Elovainio (0000-0002-1401-1910, University of Helsinki), Benita Lillrank (University of Helsinki), May V Kevin (University of Helsinki)
Year2002
Volume64
Issue5
Pages817-825
Publication date2002-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychosomatic Medicine (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-3174 • E-ISSN: 1534-7796
PublisherOvid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1097/00006842-200209000-00015
OpenAlexW4241201174
LanguageEN
Citations received12
References cited49

Objective Although an association between stressful life events and health problems has been demonstrated, the underlying mechanisms have remained unclear. We examined whether psychological problems and health-risk behaviors underpin the health effects of different event categories. Method The initially healthy participants were 2991 (796 men, 2195 women) municipal employees who had taken no sick leave in 1995. In 1997, they completed a questionnaire requesting information on recent life events and psychological and behavioral factors. The outcome was recorded sickness absences in 1998. Results In men, the death or serious illness of a family member, violence, and financial difficulties increased the risk of later sickness absence. According to structural equation modeling, violence and financial difficulties also induced psychological problems such as anxiety, mental distress, and lowered sense of coherence. Psychological problems were associated with heightened cigarette and alcohol consumption, which in turn increased sickness absence. A corresponding structural model did not fit the data in relation to death or serious illness of a family member. In women, life events were associated with psychological problems and smoking but not sickness absence. Conclusions Longitudinal evidence suggests that increased psychological problems and behaviors involving risk to health partially mediate the effect of stressful life events on health, as indicated by sickness absence. This model received support among men and for the event categories of violence and financial difficulties. Women were less affected by stressful life events than men

Anxiety · Injury prevention · Longitudinal study · Medical emergency · Poison control · Psychiatry · Suicide prevention · Clinical Psychology · Employment and Welfare Studies · Health, psychology, and well-being · Medicine · Psychology · Workplace Health and Well-being

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