Sickness absence is associated with poor health outcomes, but little is known about its consequences for general mental health. This study examined the associations between diagnosis-specific sickness absence and subsequent common mental disorders (CMD). Register data on medically certified all-cause sickness absence and sickness absence due to mental disorders and musculoskeletal diseases from 2004-2007 were linked to the Helsinki Health Study 2007 and 2012 survey data on City of Helsinki employees in Finland (N = 3560). Using logistic regression and multinomial logistic regression, we analysed the associations between the total number of reimbursed sickness absence days in 2004-7 and CMD General Health Questionnaire 12) in 2007 and 2012 and CMD changes. Sickness absence due to mental disorders (age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio (OR)range: 2.16 to 2.93), musculoskeletal diseases (OR range: 2.79 to 2.93) and all-cause sickness absence (OR range: 1.48 to 3.20) were associated with CMD in 2007. In 2012, associations with lower ORs were observed. Associations were also found with changing and especially repeated (OR range: 1.49 to 3.40) CMD. The associations remained after adjusting for work-related covariates and health behaviours. Diagnosis-specific sickness absence showed persistent associations with subsequent CMD and their changes. Attention should be paid to both the short- and long-term consequences of sickness absence for employee mental health.
Keywords: employees; mental disorders; sickness absence; work ability.