eprintid: 5566
rev_number: 26
eprint_status: archive
userid: 587
dir: disk0/00/00/55/66
datestamp: 2008-06-02 12:03:01
lastmod: 2015-07-23 09:33:50
status_changed: 2008-06-02 12:03:00
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
creators_name: Ala-Mursula, L.
creators_name: Vahtera, J.
creators_name: Pentti, J.
creators_name: Kivimäki, M.
creators_id: 
creators_id: 
creators_id: 
creators_id: MJKIV95
title: Effect of employee worktime control on health: a prospective cohort study
ispublished: pub
subjects: 3000
divisions: G19
keywords: Working times, autonomy, gender, sickness absence, self rated health
abstract: Aims: To investigate the health effects of employee worktime control. Methods: Prospective cohort study among 4218 permanent full time municipal employees linking questionnaire data from 1997 and 2000 with sickness absence records from 1997 and 2001. Worktime control was considered high for the highest tertile in both 1997 and 2000, low for the lowest tertile for both years, and intermediate for all other combinations. Self rated health status, psychological distress, and medically certified periods of sickness absence were used as the health outcomes. Adjustments were made for age, baseline health status, occupational status, marital status, dependent children, and behavioural health risks. Results: In the follow up, women with a low level of worktime control had a 1.9 times (95% CI 1.4 to 2.5) higher odds ratio for poor self rated health, a 1.4 times (95% CI 1.1 to 1.8) higher odds ratio for psychological distress, and a 1.5 times (95% CI 1.3 to 1.7) higher risk of medically certified sickness absences than women with a high level of worktime control. The health effects of worktime control were particularly evident among women with families. Among men, worktime control was not associated with self rated health or distress, but it predicted sickness absences in two subgroups: those with dependent children and those with manual occupations. Conclusions: A low level of worktime control increases the risk of future health problems. The risk is highest among women, especially those with families, and among manual workers. The results suggest that worktime control can help workers integrate their work and private lives successfully.
date: 2004-03
date_type: published
official_url: http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1136/oem.2002.005983
vfaculties: VFPHS
oa_status: green
language: eng
primo: open
primo_central: open_green
doi: 10.1136/oem.2002.005983
lyricists_name: Kivimaki, M
lyricists_id: MJKIV95
full_text_status: public
publication: Occupational and Environmental Medicine
volume: 61
number: 3
pagerange: 254-261
refereed: TRUE
issn: 1470-7926
citation:        Ala-Mursula, L.;    Vahtera, J.;    Pentti, J.;    Kivimäki, M.;      (2004)    Effect of employee worktime control on health: a prospective cohort study.                   Occupational and Environmental Medicine , 61  (3)   pp. 254-261.    10.1136/oem.2002.005983 <https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2002.005983>.       Green open access   
 
document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/5566/1/5566.pdf