The Relationship between Perceived Stress and Self-Reported Illness-Related Absenteeism

Abstract

Purpose.: To investigate the association between perceived stress and illness-related work absenteeism.Design.: A standardized health profile questionnaire developed by Johnson & Johnson Advanced Behavioral Technologies, Inc., was used to collect demographic and personal health data between June 1988 and January 1993. Chi-square, odds ratio, and stepwise regression tests were used to analyze perceived stress and self-reported absenteeism data.Setting.: Worksite health promotion programs in 250 U.S. companies.Subjects.: Subjects consisted of 79,070 employees.Measures.: Stress data, grouped as low, moderate, and high, were correlated with absenteeism data grouped by annual days missed (None, 1 to 2, 3 to 4, and 5+).Results.: Significant relationships were found (p ⩽ .05) between high stress and absenteeism for both genders. Female workers reported higher stress levels and absenteeism than men. Those with high stress were 2.22 more likely to be absent 5+ days per year than those with low stress. Work, finances, and family were the highest stress sources. Greatest absenteeism predictors were health, legal, social, and financial stress.Conclusions.: These data primarily represented self-selected white workers and may not apply to all employees. However, if high stress relates to absenteeism, these data may provide valuable information for program design in stress management.