[Causes of absenteeism not related to illness--model analysis]

The study carried out at the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lódź promoted an analysis of the impact of many non-disease-related factors--such as demographic, economic, social and living conditions, as well as working environment--on sickness absenteeism rates. The analysis was based on empirical data collected in one of electronic industry plants. The analysis of sickness absenteeism causes involved cause-effect models estimated by multivariate regression. The models were constructed for men and women aged up to 29, 30-39, 40-49, over 50, and total. Two parameters served as variables of absenteeism: number of absenteeism days in a given year and average duration of absenteeism case. Explanatory variables in particular models were selected from many non-disease-related variables. Multiple correlation coefficients indicated at the p = 0.05 significance level--a statistically significant correlation between the adopted explanatory variables and the variable being explained in every model. The results of estimation of particular models indicate that in the absenteeism of men and women alike, workers' health self-evaluation is essential and affects workers absenteeism in younger groups and totally. This variable significantly affects men and women's absenteeism rates exerting effects on the duration of absenteeism cases, thus also through the severity of diseases. Other variables determining--in the statistically significant way--sickness absenteeism involve: length of employment, influencing men and women's absenteeism in elder age, and occupational exposure to some hazards, which refers mainly to women. In addition, the studies demonstrated that the average duration of a disease is largely connected with workers' age.