Sex differences in sickness absence in relation to parental status

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Public Health
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Sex differences in sickness absence are well-documented.
• Parental status is often considered a significant factor influencing work absence.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for workplace policies and public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze sex differences in medically certified sickness absence.
• To investigate the role of parental status and age in sickness absence.
• To examine the impact of child custody on sickness absence rates.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of new sick-leave spells exceeding seven days, certified by a physician in a Swedish county (1985-1987).
• Data linked to the Swedish Official Population and Housing Census 1985 for population at risk.
• Focus on the employed population aged 16-54, with and without custody of children under ten years.

Main Results:

• Women with children exhibited higher sickness absence than men with children across all ages.
• Significant sex differences in sickness absence were observed for individuals with children, but not for those without (except older age groups).
• Men with children had the lowest sickness absence, while young women with children had the highest, even after excluding pregnancy-related absences.

Conclusions:

• Sex differences in sickness absence are strongly associated with the custody of young children.
• Parental role inequality, specifically in childcare responsibilities, may counteract potential health benefits of multiple roles for women.
• Findings highlight the need to address gender disparities in parental responsibilities to understand sickness absence patterns.