The project “Health, work and society - multi-disciplinary studies of determinants of sickness absence and disability” is funded by the research programme on Sickness Absence, Work and Health established by the Research Council of Norway.
Researchers in medicine, psychology, sociology and economics are cooperating in the project during the period 2008-2013.
Data
The project takes advantage of large-scale health suveys as well as population-based national registries that offer detailed and longitudinal information on socioeconomic and demographic variables, combined with information about the use of social security programs and labour market participation.
Data are also merged with GPs' patient lists and new data are collected for comparison of sick leave certification practice among GPs' in Norway and Sweeden.
Health, Work, Society
Researchers investigate whether mental illness is a risk factor for disability pension granted on the grounds of somatic conditions.
The project also looks into social norms, workplace culture and work environment as determinants of absence. Factors like social class, gender and ethnicity will also be investigated. So will the GP's role in sickness absence.