Carin Staland Nyman

Multiple Social Roles, Health, and Sickness Absence—A Five-Year Follow-Up Study of Professional Women in Sweden

The aim of this study was to analyze associations between changes in social roles and physical health, mental well-being, psychiatric disorder, and long-term sickness absence over a five-year period. The study was part of a general population-based multipurpose project. Professional women from six birth cohorts born in 1935, 1945, 1955, 1965, 1970, or 1975 (N = 532) were interviewed twice. Self-rated information on physical health, mental well-being, long-term sickness absence, and changes in social roles was used. Information on psychiatric disorders was based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III-R and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV diagnoses. Multivariate logistic regressions were adjusted for age, socio-economic position, alcohol dependence and abuse, and health at baseline. An increase in number of social roles was associated with lower odds for poor mental well-being, odds ratio (OR) 0.4 (confidence interval [CI] 0.2 to 0.8), while a decrease was associated with higher odds for poor mental well-being, OR 4.5 (CI 1.8 to 11.0), psychiatric disorder, OR 2.6 (1.0 to 6.8), and sickness absence, OR 4.4 (1.6 to 11.7). The results indicated that an increase in number of social roles might be protective against poor mental well-being, while a decrease in number of roles might be related to increased psychiatric disorders and long-term sickness absence. More studies on long-term health implications of gender-specific experiences are needed.

Are there any associations between single and/or multiple social roles and self-rated physical health, psychiatric disorder and long-term sickness absence in women?

Background: The relationship between single and/or multiple social roles that women hold (occupational, partner, and parent) and health and sickness absence is an important public health issue. Few ...

Expertise and post-normal science in the development of the Swedish sickness certification decision-support tool

Social differences in pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain : an opportunity to reduce long-lasting inequality in maternal and offspring health

Multiple roles, health and sickness absence – A five year follow-up study on women in Sweden

Community-academic partnership through a community-based participatory research process as knowledge production and action for a healthy and sustainable neighborhood

The impact of health problems in sickness absence might be underestimated in Sweden

Changes in the welfare systems including the sickness insurance scheme are ongoing in several countries, and better knowledge on the extent of health problems in sickness absence seems needed. The ...

Sickness absence in women—what are the associations with domestic work?

IssueOne explanation put forward for women’s higher sickness absence, is they often have the main responsibility for the domestic work. Studies on the association between health and ‘double burden’ ...