Genetic and environmental influences on workforce absence due to ill health – A life span study

Objectives: It is a high political priority to maximize workforce participation in the working age population. Absence from the workforce due to physical and psychological ill health has huge societal and individual costs,... [ view full abstract ]

Objectives: It is a high political priority to maximize workforce participation in the working age population. Absence from the workforce due to physical and psychological ill health has huge societal and individual costs, economically and socially. The present study aims to gain more knowledge about the causes of individual variation, namely genetic and environmental influences, underlying medically certified workforce absence across the life span and whether there are differences between males and females in the type, magnitude and stability of these influences. Methods: A population-based sample of 29 257 twins born between 1926 and 1991 participating in the Norwegian Institute of Public Health Twin Panel was linked to registry data on medically certified workforce absence, including sickness absence, rehabilitation and disability, during the years 1992 to 2016. Multivariate genetic modelling was performed on the number of absence days per life decade from participants’ age 18 until 66. Results: Preliminary findings indicate strong genetic stability and a tendency of increasing stability with age. Genetic stability between young adulthood (age 18-29) and old adulthood (age 60-66) was moderate. Heritability was moderate at all ages, but showed a decreasing tendency in males, whilst fluctuating in females. Environmental factors not shared with family members was the most influential factor across life and became increasingly stable with age, whereas shared environmental factors had none or negligible effects. Detailed analyses will be presented at the conference.