This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Izutsu, T. Articles by Kawamura, N. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Izutsu, T. Articles by Kawamura, N. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

The Relationship Between Past Traumatic Experience and Sickness Absence

Department of Forensic Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan, izutsu{at}gakushikai.jp

Mihoko Shibuya

Department of Human Sciences, Musashino University, Tokyo, Japan

Atsuro Tsutsumi

Department of International Community Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

Takako Konishi

Department of Human Sciences, Musashino University, Tokyo, Japan

Noriyuki Kawamura

Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan

Background: Past traumatic experiences have been reported to lower stress tolerance, thereby increasing job strain. However, the relationship between past traumatic experiences and employee sickness absence is poorly understood.

Aims: This study explores the relationship between sickness absence and past traumatic experience with regard to the amount of time lapsed after the experience, job strain and other mental health states such as depression and anxiety.

Methods: A total of 3238 workers were assessed for levels of traumatic stress, depressive status, anxiety and job stress.

Results: Odds ratios of the presence of traumatic experiences to sickness absence, adjusted for sex, age and depressive and anxiety states, were presented according to the length of time that had passed since the traumatic events. The odds ratio in the 0—1 Years Group was 1.75 (p < 0.05), and the odds ratio for the 19+ Years Group was 1.46 (p < 0.1).

Conclusions: Past traumatic events are related to sickness absence. Sickness absence resulting from a past traumatic experience is important with respect to industrial health.

Key Words: industrial health • job strain • post-traumatic stress disorder • sickness absence

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?