Author:
STANSFELD S. A.,RAEL G. S.,HEAD J.,SHIPLEY M.,MARMOT M.
Abstract
Background. Studies on the direct and buffering effects of social support have not examined
psychiatric sickness absence and few studies have considered support both at home and at work.
This study addresses prospectively the effects of chronic stressors and social supports, at home
and at work, on psychiatric sickness absence rates.Methods. Sociodemographic factors, health and social support were measured at baseline, and
short and long spells of sickness absence were measured prospectively over a 5-year period. The
participants were a subsample of 4202 male and female civil servants, aged 35–55 years at baseline,
from an occupational cohort, the Whitehall II Study, who completed detailed social support
questions.Results. Support from colleagues and supervisors at work is related to lower risk of short spells
of psychiatric sickness absence, particularly for those also receiving high levels of negative
aspects of close relationships from their closest person outside work. Negative aspects of close
relationships from the closest person increase the risk of taking long spells of psychiatric
sickness absence in men. High levels of material problems increase the risk of short spells of
sickness absence.Conclusions. Negative aspects of close relationships may have an aetiological role in
non-psychotic psychiatric disorder. Social support at work appears to protect against short spells of
psychiatric sickness absence. This potentially implies that levels of short spells of absence might
be reduced by increasing support at work. Conversely, emotional support at home may
influence absence-related behaviour and encourage a person to take absence at a time of
illness.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health,Applied Psychology
Cited by
116 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献