The impact of conscientiousness, mastery, and work circumstances on subsequent absenteeism in employees with and without affective disorders

A.A.L. Kok, I. Plaisier, Johannes Smit, Brenda Penninx

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background High numbers of employees are coping with affective disorders. At the same time, ambitiousness, achievement striving and a strong sense of personal control and responsibility are personality characteristics that are nowadays regarded as key to good work functioning, whereas social work circumstances tend to be neglected. However, it is largely unkown how personality characteristics and work circumstances affect work functioning when facing an affective disorder. Given the high burden of affective disorders on occupational health, we investigate these issues in the context of affective disorders and absenteeism from work. The principal aim of this paper is to examine whether particular personality characteristics that reflect self-governance (conscientiousness and mastery) and work circumstances (demands, control, support) influence the impact of affective disorders on long-term absenteeism (>10 working days). Methods Baseline and 1-year follow-up data from 1249 participants in the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) in 2004–2006 was employed. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed, including interaction effects between depressive, anxiety, and comorbid disorders and personality and work circumstances. Results In general, mastery and conscientiousness increased nor diminished odds of subsequent long-term absenteeism, whereas higher job support significantly decreased these odds. Interaction effects showed that the impact of affective disorders on absenteeism was stronger for highly conscientious employees and for employees who experienced high job demands. Conclusions Affective disorders may particularly severely affect work functioning of employees who are highly conscientious or face high psychological job demands. Adjusting working conditions to their individual needs may prevent excessive work absence.
Original languageEnglish
Article number10
JournalBMC Psychology
Volume5
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Mar 2017

Funding

The infrastructure for the NESDA study (http://www.nesda.nl) is funded through the Geestkracht program of the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (Zon-Mw, grant number 10-000-1002) and is supported by participating universities and mental health care organizations (VU University Medical Center, GGZ inGeest, Arkin, Leiden University Medical Center, GGZ Rivierduinen, University Medical Center Groningen, Lentis, GGZ Friesland, GGZ Drenthe, Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare (IQ healthcare), Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL) and Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction (Trimbos). The funders of this study were neither involved in the study design, the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, and in writing of the report, nor in the decision to submit the current paper for publication.

FundersFunder number
Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction
ZonMw10-000-1002
Nederlands Instituut voor Onderzoek van de Gezondheidszorg
Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum

    Keywords

    • Absenteeism
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Personality
    • Work

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