Predicting absenteeism: screening for work ability or burnout

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">Background</div>In determining the predictors of occupational health problems, two factors can be distinguished: personal (work ability) factors and work-related factors (burnout, job characteristics). However, these risk factors are hardly ever combined and it is not clear whether burnout or work ability best predicts absenteeism.<div class="boxTitle">Aims</div>To relate measures of work ability, burnout and job characteristics to absenteeism as the indicators of occupational health problems.<div class="boxTitle">Methods</div>Survey data on work ability, burnout and job characteristics from a Dutch university were related to the absenteeism data from the university’s occupational health and safety database in the year following the survey study. The survey contained the Work Ability Index (WAI), Utrecht Burnout Scale (UBOS) and seven job characteristics from the Questionnaire on Experience and Evaluation of Work (QEEW).<div class="boxTitle">Results</div>There were 242 employees in the study group. Logistic regression analyses revealed that job characteristics did not predict absenteeism. Exceptional absenteeism was most consistently predicted by the WAI dimensions ‘employees’ own prognosis of work ability in two years from now’ and ‘mental resources/vitality’ and the burnout dimension ‘emotional exhaustion’. Other significant predictors of exceptional absenteeism frequency included estimated work impairment due to diseases (WAI) and feelings of depersonalization or emotional distance from the work (burnout).<div class="boxTitle">Conclusions</div>Absenteeism among university personnel was best predicted by a combination of work ability and burnout. As a result, measures to prevent absenteeism and health problems may best be aimed at improving an individual’s work ability and/or preventing the occurrence of burnout.</span>

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