Sick society: a study exploring the psychosocial work environment

Abstract: This study started as a request from a research team at the divison of
Industrial design at the department of Human Work Sciences at the University
of Technology in Luleå Sweden. Their request was for an examination of a
work environment from a psychosocial approach using sickness absence as a
point of analysis.

From the background of structure change in organisations during the
1990’s that worsened the psychosocial work environment and increased the
stress of the individual, the relationship between psychological demand,
decision latitude, and social support is examined. The purpose of this study
is therefore to explore the cause of sickness absence from a psychosocial
perspective. This exploration is lead by three questions: what is the
psychosocial work environment and how has the implementation of new
management reforms changed it? How do psychological demand, decision
latitude and social support affect the individual? And: why does this, with
increasing frequency, result in sickness absence?

Through the application of Göran Ahrne’s perspective of organisations,
this study critically applies the theory of Robert Karasek & Töres Theorell
to empirical data collected through quantitative and qualitative methods.
This triangulation of information uses sickness absence as the point of
analysis to explore how three factors from within the psychosocial “work”
environment affect the health and well-being of the individual.
This study is of an organisation dominated by woman, and this type of
absences could provide a legitimate break from the governance and demands of
the organisation and is therefore important.

The study reveals the full extent of the influence that organisational
governance has not only on individual health and well-being but also on
creating identities. Furthermore, it demonstrates the potential of
organisations to destroy identities it creates through demolishing the
secure, stable homogenous environment they have created and nurtured. To
reduce the risk to health and well-being, organisations must provide a clear
objective and direct its governance towards creating stability and security
for the individual.