Is Your Job Making You Sick? New Research Points to a Gender Gap

Work Stress Linked to Increased Sick Leave for Middle-Aged Women.

Gothenburg, Sweden – A new study from the University of Gothenburg reveals a strong connection between work-related stress and increased sick leave among middle-aged women. The research, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care, highlights the significant impact of job conflicts and lack of control over work decisions on women’s health.

Researchers examined data from 573 women aged 38 and 50, finding that nearly three-quarters experienced work-related or general mental stress. Over the following year, 16% took sick leave for at least two weeks.

Women who reported job conflicts were more than twice as likely to go on sick leave, even after accounting for other factors like general stress, previous sick leave, and lifestyle habits. Those with limited decision-making power at work also faced a higher risk.

Study co-author Kirsten Mehlig emphasizes the importance of improving work environments to reduce sick leave among women. She explains, “Little scope for decision-making and conflicts in the workplace can predict sick leave, independent of general mental stress and previous sick leave.”

The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address work-related stress, particularly among middle-aged women.