Association of work‐time control with sickness absence due to musculoskeletal and mental disorders: An occupational cohort study

OBJECTIVES: Work‐time control is associated with lower sickness absence rates, but it remains unclear whether this association differs by type of diagnosis and sub‐dimension of work‐time control (control over daily hours and control over time off) and whether certain vulnerable groups benefit more from higher levels of work‐time control. METHODS: Survey data from the Finnish 10‐town study in 2004 were used to examine if baseline levels of work‐time control were associated with register data on diagnose‐specific sickness absence for 7 consecutive years (n = 22 599). Cox proportional hazard models were conducted, adjusted for age, sex, education, occupational status, shift work including nights, and physical/mental workload. RESULTS: During follow‐up, 2,818 individuals were on sick leave (≥10 days) due to musculoskeletal disorders and 1724 due to mental disorders. Employees with high (HR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.74‐0.87; HR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.70‐0.82, respectively) and moderate (HR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.77‐0.90; HR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.79‐0.91, respectively) levels of control over daily hours/control over time off had a decreased risk of sickness absence due to musculoskeletal disorders. Sub‐group analyses revealed that especially workers who were older benefitted the most from higher levels of work‐time control. Neither sub‐dimension of work‐time control was related to sickness absence due to mental disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Over a 7‐year period of follow‐up, high and moderate levels of work‐time control were related to lower rates of sickness absence due to musculoskeletal disorders, but not due to mental disorders.