Does Perceived Stress Mediate the Association Between Workplace Bullying and Long-Term Sickness Absence?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Does Perceived Stress Mediate the Association Between Workplace Bullying and Long-Term Sickness Absence?

AU - Grynderup, Matias Brdsgaard

AU - Nabe-Nielsen, Kirsten

AU - Lange, Theis

AU - Conway, Paul Maurice

AU - Bonde, Jens Peter

AU - Francioli, Laura

AU - Garde, Anne Helene

AU - Kaerlev, Linda

AU - Rugulies, Reiner

AU - Vammen, Marianne Agergaard

AU - Høgh (Hogh), Annie

AU - Hansen, Åse Marie

PY - 2016/6/1

Y1 - 2016/6/1

N2 - OBJECTIVE: To examine if perceived stress mediated the association between workplace bullying and subsequent long-term sickness absence.METHODS: The PRISME cohort was established in 2007 and re-examined in 2009. Questionnaire data about workplace bullying and perceived stress were obtained from 4114 individuals. Participants were followed in registers on long-term sickness absence (≥30 consecutive days of sickness absence).RESULTS: Workplace bullying was associated with subsequent sickness absence (odds ratio [OR] = 2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.57 to 2.65) and concurrent high perceived stress levels (OR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.86 to 2.96). A high perceived stress level was also associated with subsequent sickness absence (OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.56). Perceived stress explained 13% (95% CI: 6 to 23%) of the total association between bullying and sickness absence.CONCLUSIONS: The association between workplace bullying and subsequent long-term sickness absence may be partially mediated by perceived stress.

AB - OBJECTIVE: To examine if perceived stress mediated the association between workplace bullying and subsequent long-term sickness absence.METHODS: The PRISME cohort was established in 2007 and re-examined in 2009. Questionnaire data about workplace bullying and perceived stress were obtained from 4114 individuals. Participants were followed in registers on long-term sickness absence (≥30 consecutive days of sickness absence).RESULTS: Workplace bullying was associated with subsequent sickness absence (odds ratio [OR] = 2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.57 to 2.65) and concurrent high perceived stress levels (OR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.86 to 2.96). A high perceived stress level was also associated with subsequent sickness absence (OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.56). Perceived stress explained 13% (95% CI: 6 to 23%) of the total association between bullying and sickness absence.CONCLUSIONS: The association between workplace bullying and subsequent long-term sickness absence may be partially mediated by perceived stress.

U2 - 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000750

DO - 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000750

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27129021

SN - 1076-2752

VL - 58

SP - 226

EP - 230

JO - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

JF - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

IS - 6

ER -