Abstract
Results
Ninety-one percent of the participants reported at least one complaint in the past 30 days, and 96 % of the participants reported
concerns for at least one of the items in the MHW scale. Women reported significantly more and more severe complaints compared
to men and significantly more concern about aspects of modern life affecting health. Participants who reported a high level
of MHW showed nearly twice the risk of reporting a high level of SHC (odds ratio (OR) = 1.83; 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.30–2.71;
p = 0.001), and they showed twice the risk for self-certified sick leave related to SHC (OR = 2.04; 95 % CI = 1.01–3.92; p = 0.048). High levels of MHW showed no significant association with health care utilization or doctor-certified sick leave.
concerns for at least one of the items in the MHW scale. Women reported significantly more and more severe complaints compared
to men and significantly more concern about aspects of modern life affecting health. Participants who reported a high level
of MHW showed nearly twice the risk of reporting a high level of SHC (odds ratio (OR) = 1.83; 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.30–2.71;
p = 0.001), and they showed twice the risk for self-certified sick leave related to SHC (OR = 2.04; 95 % CI = 1.01–3.92; p = 0.048). High levels of MHW showed no significant association with health care utilization or doctor-certified sick leave.
Conclusions
Subjective health complaints and concerns about aspects of modern life affecting health are very common, even among healthy
workers. Women have more complaints and more concerns compared to men. Within the health care system, it may be advantageous
to pay close attention to the association between high levels of MHW and high levels of SHC.
workers. Women have more complaints and more concerns compared to men. Within the health care system, it may be advantageous
to pay close attention to the association between high levels of MHW and high levels of SHC.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s12529-012-9246-1
- Authors
- Anne-Marthe Rustad Indregard, Health UMB, IHA, Norwegian University of Life sciences, Ås, Norway
- Camilla Martha Ihlebæk, Health UMB, IHA, Norwegian University of Life sciences, Ås, Norway
- Hege Randi Eriksen, Uni Health, Uni Research, Bergen, Norway
- Journal International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1532-7558
- Print ISSN 1070-5503