Stress-related sickness absence: the importance of total workload and part time work and the effect on stress hormones
Stress-related ill-health has increased markedly during the last years, particularly in young women. In general, there is a lack of research about risk factors for stress- related sickness absence, specifically as regards differerences between men and women. One reason for these sex differences has been attributed to women reporting higher total workload than men and more conflict between work and family life.
In the research project, we have studied the associations between total workload, occurrence of part-time work, lifestyle, biomarkers for stress and stress-related sick leave. Part of the project was based on a twin cohort (STODS), another part on a cohort of working women (Stockholm University). By combining registry data, twin data and biological markers with self-reported data, the project contributed valuable and unique knowledge about risk factors for stress-related sick leave as well as knowledge about the reasons for women's overrepresentation in this type of sick leave. See the publication list for more details about the results.