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Papers by Claus D. Hansen

Social science & medicine, Jan 1, 2008

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of a broad range of possible factors relating to wo... more The aim of this study is to assess the impact of a broad range of possible factors relating to work, personal circumstances and attitudes towards sickness absence on a person's decision to go to work despite feeling ill, a phenomenon that has been termed sickness presence (SP), or 'presenteeism', in the literature. Using data from a random sample of 12,935 members from the core Danish work force the hypotheses were tested in a cross-sectional design utilising ordered logistic regression models. The results indicate that more than 70% of the core work force goes ill to work at least once during a 12-month period. This means that SP is just as prevalent a phenomenon as sickness absence. Many of the results from earlier studies of SP were replicated and new factors were discovered: for example time pressure (having a supervisory role and/or working more than 45 h per week) and relationship with colleagues (measured by working in a small company, having non-standard hours and degree of cooperation) both increase the likelihood of SP. However, personal circumstances and attitudes, e.g. treating work as home (cf. Hochschild's thesis) and being over-committed to work, were also found to lead to higher levels of SP. Finally, we found that those with a conservative attitude to absence were most likely to turn up ill at work. Overall, work-related factors seem to be slightly more important than personal circumstances or attitudes in determining people's 'decision' to go ill at work. However, the relatively low explanatory power of these combined factors suggests that there are still many unknowns in this field of research.

Journal of epidemiology and community …, Jan 1, 2009

Background: Little is known about the long-term consequences of sickness presence (ie, going to w... more Background: Little is known about the long-term consequences of sickness presence (ie, going to work despite ill-health), although one study suggests an association with coronary heart disease. This study Research report

Tidsskrift for Forskning i Sygdom og Samfund, Jan 1, 2010

Tidsskrift for Forskning i Sygdom og Samfund, Jan 1, 2012

Preface Mit dem Glück ist es nicht anders als mit der Wahrheit: Man hat es nicht, sondern ist dar... more Preface Mit dem Glück ist es nicht anders als mit der Wahrheit: Man hat es nicht, sondern ist darin. Ja, Glück ist nicht anderes als da Umfangensein, Nachbild der Geborgenheit in der Mutter. Darum kann kein Glücklicher je wissen, daß er er ist. Um das Glück zu sehen, müßte er aus ihm heraustreten: er wäre wie ein Geborener. Wer sagt, er sei glücklich, lügt, indem er es beschwört, und sündigt so an dem Glück. Treue hält ihm bloß, der spricht: ich war glücklich. Das einzige Verhältnis des Bewußtseins zum Glück ist der Dank: das macht dessen unvergleichliche Würde aus. (Adorno, Minima Moralia)

BMC Public …, Jan 1, 2012

Background: Reviews of the literature on the health and work environment of ambulance personnel h... more Background: Reviews of the literature on the health and work environment of ambulance personnel have indicated an increased risk of work-related health problems in this occupation. The aim of this study was to compare health status and exposure to different work environmental factors among ambulance personnel and the core work force in Denmark. In addition, to examine the association between physical and psychosocial work environment factors and different measures of health among ambulance personnel. Methods: Data were taken from a nationwide sample of ambulance personnel and fire fighters (n = 1,691) and was compared to reference samples of the Danish work force. The questionnaire contained measures of physical and psychosocial work environment as well as measures of musculoskeletal pain, mental health, self-rated health and sleep quality. Results: Ambulance personnel have half the prevalence of poor self-rated health compared to the core work force (5% vs. 10%). Levels of mental health were the same across the two samples whereas a substantially higher proportion of the ambulance personnel reported musculoskeletal pain (42% vs. 29%). The ambulance personnel had higher levels of emotional demands and meaningfulness of and commitment to work, and substantially lower levels of quantitative demands and influence at work. Only one out of ten aspects of physical work environment was consistently associated with higher levels of musculoskeletal pain. Emotional demands was the only psychosocial work factor that was associated with both poorer mental health and worse sleep quality. Conclusions: Ambulance personnel have similar levels of mental health but substantially higher levels of musculoskeletal pain than the work force in general. They are more exposed to emotional demands and these demands are associated with higher levels of poor mental health and poor sleep quality. To improve work environment, attention should be paid to musculoskeletal problems and the presence of positive organizational support mechanisms that can prevent negative effects from the high levels of emotional demands.

American journal of …, Jan 1, 2011

Background The objective was to examine the incidence of work accidents that required medical att... more Background The objective was to examine the incidence of work accidents that required medical attention among Danish adolescents and to identify possible work environment factors associated with such accidents. Methods We collected information in two questionnaire rounds (2004 and 2007) from a birth cohort comprising all adolescents born in 1989 (n ¼ 3,687) living in Ringkjøbing County, Denmark. The questionnaire contained items on self-reported number of accidents and number of working hours in both rounds and on work environment factors in the second round.

Biological mechanisms a) damages that lower cognitive abilities permanently (e.g. low birth weigh... more Biological mechanisms a) damages that lower cognitive abilities permanently (e.g. low birth weight, brain damages) b) diseases or symptoms that lower ability to concentrate (e.g.

Acta Sociologica, Jan 1, 2005

The past decade has witnessed what could rightly be termed an 'Adorno revival'. Renewed i... more The past decade has witnessed what could rightly be termed an 'Adorno revival'. Renewed interest in the German philosopher and sociologist Theodor Adorno has appeared in many disciplines and a host of new interpretations of his works have come to light, focusing, ...

Second ICOH-Psychosocial Factors at Work, Jan 1, 2005

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Studerende m fritidsjob 0.96 (0.76-1.22) 0.90 (0.71-1.13) 1.15 (0.91-1.47) Elev/laerling 0.73 (0.... more Studerende m fritidsjob 0.96 (0.76-1.22) 0.90 (0.71-1.13) 1.15 (0.91-1.47) Elev/laerling 0.73 (0.52-1.02) 1.00 (0.71-1.41) 1.12 (0.79-1.59) I ordinaert arbejde 1.25 (0.77-2.03) 1.82 (1.13-2.92) 1.93 (1.21-3.09) Udenfor arbejdsmarked 1.63 (0.70-3.79) 2.02 (0.93-4.41) 2.04 (0.96-4.34)