Sickness absence: A gender-focused review
- 20 August 2009
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Psychology, Health & Medicine
- Vol. 14 (4), 405-418
- https://doi.org/10.1080/13548500903012830
Abstract
Women compared with men are generally considered to have higher sickness absence rates. Also determinants of sickness absent may differ between the sexes, a relevant area of knowledge for organizations that want to fine-tune particular measures to particular determinants. The present article offers a review of the literature regarding the relationships between sickness absence and gender. Various explanations mentioned in the literature are discussed using a classification derived from the Multi-Facet Gender and Health Model. Women compared to men seem indeed more frequently absent at work but this depends on countries, age – and professional groups, and seems restricted to short-term absence. Main conclusions with respect to future research concern the desirability of context-sensitive research and the usefulness of short-term versus long-term absenteeism as an outcome variable. Additionally, we recommend to further investigate the effects of organizational and psychosocial gender-related work characteristics, gender-bias in diagnostics and treatment, as well as gender differences in specific person-related factors interacting with gender differences in work-related daily life factors.Keywords
This publication has 50 references indexed in Scilit:
- Sickness absence as an interactive process: Gendered experiences of young, highly educated women with mental health problemsPatient Education and Counseling, 2008
- Sex Differences in Health Effects of Family Death or Illness: Are Women More Vulnerable Than Men?Psychosomatic Medicine, 2006
- When It Is Better to Give Than to Receive: Long-Term Health Effects of Perceived Reciprocity in Support Exchange.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2005
- Social Cohesiveness and AbsenteeismSmall Group Research, 2004
- Gender differences in the use of social support as a moderator of occupational stressStress & Health, 2003
- Biobehavioral responses to stress in females: Tend-and-befriend, not fight-or-flight.Psychological Review, 2000
- Absenteeism, turnover intention and inequity in the employment relationshipWork & Stress, 1999
- Severe Perimenstrual SymptomsWomen & Health, 1988
- Social learning influences on menstrual symptoms and illness behavior.Health Psychology, 1986
- Job Demands, Job Decision Latitude, and Mental Strain: Implications for Job RedesignAdministrative Science Quarterly, 1979