Emotional demands and all-cause and diagnosis-specific long-term sickness absence: a prospective cohort study in Sweden

BACKGROUND: High emotional demands at work require sustained emotional effort and are associated with adverse health outcomes. We tested whether individuals in occupations with high emotional demands, compared with low demands, had a higher future risk of all-cause long-term sickness absence (LTSA). We further explored whether the risk of LTSA associated with high emotional demands differed by LTSA diagnoses.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective, nationwide cohort study on the association between emotional demands and LTSA (>30 days) in the workforce in Sweden (n = 3 905 685) during a 7-year follow-up. Using Cox regression, we analyzed sex-stratified risks of all-cause and diagnosis-specific LTSA due to common mental disorders (CMD), musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) and all other diagnoses. Multivariable adjusted models included age, birth country, education, living area, family situation and physical work demands.

RESULTS: Working in emotionally demanding occupations was associated with a higher risk of all-cause LTSA in women [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.92, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.88-1.96] and men (HR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.21-1.25). In women, the higher risk was similar for LTSA due to CMD, MSD and all other diagnoses (HR of 1.82, 1.92 and 1.93, respectively). In men, risk of LTSA due to CMD was pronounced (HR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.92-2.11), whereas risk of LTSA due to MSD and all other diagnoses was only slightly elevated (HR of 1.13, both outcomes).

CONCLUSIONS: Workers in occupations with high emotional demands had a higher risk of all-cause LTSA. In women, risk of all-cause and diagnosis-specific LTSA were similar. In men, the risk was more pronounced for LTSA due to CMD.