Affiliations: Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden | Lillehammer University College, Lillehammer,
Norway | Eastern Norway Research Institute, Lillehammer,
Norway
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Ulla-Britt Eriksson, Public Health
Sciences, Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Karlstad University,
SE-651 88 Karlstad, Sweden. Tel.: +46 54 7001646; +46 703 191902; Fax: +46 54
7002220; E-mail: ulla-britt.eriksson@kau.se
Abstract: Objective: The association between diagnosis and psychosocial work
factors in a sickness absent population was examined in order to test the
existence of a previously suggested hypothesis of "the burnout staircase", a
seven step process prior to the long-term sickness absence due to burnout
starting with reorganisations followed by insecure social bonds affecting the
work situation as well as trust in oneself and others. Participants: The study population comprised of 2055 employed sick-listed persons (1414 women,
641 men), a sub sample derived from the 2002 national Swedish survey on health,
working conditions, life situation and sick-listing. Methods: Through
multinomial logistic regression it was analysed if experiences of the different
steps in the burnout staircase increased the probability of burnout compared to
other medical diagnoses. Results: The hypothesis was supported. The study
revealed strong and significant associations between having experienced
reorganisations, insecure social relations fraught with conflicts, incompatible
demands, lack of trust and diminished self-esteem and burnout. This was true
for both women and men. Strong and significant associations were found also
between each step studied and other mental diagnoses for men. Conclusion: More studies are needed to further test the hypothesis.
Keywords: Burnout process, sickness absence, social relations, emotional deprivation, shame, psychosocial work factors
