Can sickness absence be reduced by stress reduction programs: on the effectiveness of two approaches
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Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of two brief preventive stress reduction programs--a cognitive focused program and a combined intervention of physical exercise and relaxation--on sickness absence in stressed and non-stressed employees working in various jobs in a telecom company.Methods The study was designed as an a priori randomized trial and the follow-up period for sickness absence was 1 year. Sickness absence data of 242 employees were analyzed with respect to spells of sickness (frequency, incidence rate), days (length, duration) and time between intervention and first subsequent absent spell.Results For stressed employees this study suggests that the illness burden represented by absenteeism is not affected by the interventions. There is no substantial difference in effectiveness between the cognitive and physical interventions. However, in comparison with the physical intervention the cognitive intervention decreases the period between the intervention and the first recurrence of a sick leave period with 144 days (marginal significant).Conclusion The illness burden represented by absenteeism is effected in detail but not substantially by the interventions.
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Several studies on face-to-face or Web-based worker-directed interventions for non-sick-listed employees have shown positive effects of the interventions on symptom reduction.
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From Long-Term Results of a Web-Based Guided Self-Help Intervention for Employees With Depressive Symptoms: Randomized Controlled Trial (2014) · cites this paper as [33]
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- Authors
- van Rhenen, W., Blonk, R. W. B., Schaufeli, W. B., & van Dijk, F. J. H.
- Affiliations
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (NL)
- Utrecht University (NL)
- Venue
- International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
- Published
- 2006-11-09
- Volume
- 80
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 505-515
- ISSN
- 0340-0131 (ISSN-L)
- 1432-1246
- OpenAlex
- W2120575850
- Cited by
- 46
- References
- 76
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 3.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- dspace.library.uu.nl
- Licence
- Locations
- International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- TNO Repository (submittedVersion)
- Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion)
- Repository hosted by TU Delft Library (TU Delft) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Workplace Health and Well-being
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Stress and Burnout Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Keywords
- sick leave, stress management interventions, physical activity, relaxation training, occupational stress, absenteeism, disease burden, return to work after sick leave, workplace health promotion, telecommunications company employees
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Netherlands, Stress, Psychological, Program Evaluation, Occupational Health, Sick Leave
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