A lifecourse approach to long-term sickness absence--a cohort study

Area of Science:

• Social epidemiology
• Occupational health
• Life-course research

Background:

• Traditional research on long-term sickness absence often focuses on occupational psychosocial factors, such as low decision latitude.
• These factors alone provide an incomplete explanation, potentially influenced by earlier life social or temperamental risk factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between occupational factors and long-term sickness absence.
• To examine the role of psychological distress, musculoskeletal symptoms, cognitive ability, and early life factors in this association.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the 1958 British Birth Cohort.
• Long-term sickness absence defined as receipt of Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance at age 42.
• Examination of psychological distress, musculoskeletal symptoms, and low decision latitude at age 33, adjusted for IQ, educational attainment, and early life symptoms.

Main Results:

• Low decision latitude predicted long-term absence, with the association weakening after adjusting for psychological distress and musculoskeletal symptoms.
• The link between low decision latitude and long-term absence disappeared when IQ and educational attainment were included.
• Early life somatic and neurotic symptoms showed minimal impact on the observed associations.

Conclusions:

• Low decision latitude may not be an independent risk factor for long-term sick leave, but rather reflect the influence of education and cognitive ability on threat perception.
• Understanding the interplay between occupational risks and individual life-course vulnerabilities is crucial for developing effective policies.
• Implications for policy interventions aimed at reducing long-term sick leave are highlighted.