Joint associations of leisure time physical activity and screen sitting time with long-term sickness absence due to mental and musculoskeletal diseases: a registry linked follow-up study

• Published in: Public health (London) Vol. 233; pp. 177 - 184
• Main Authors: Sarttila, K.H., Kuusela, M., Pohjola, V., Lundqvist, A., Hautala, A.J., Pesola, A.J., Lahti, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2024
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Exercise; Female; Finland - epidemiology; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Leisure Activities - psychology; Male; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Musculoskeletal Diseases - epidemiology; Population-based study; Registries; Screen Time; Sedentary behavior; Sick leave; Sick Leave - statistics & numerical data; Surveys and Questionnaires; Work ability; Young Adult; Finland; Population-based study; Sedentary behavior; Sick leave; Exercise; Work ability
• ISSN: 0033-3506; 1476-5616; 1476-5616
• DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2024.05.016

To examine joint associations of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and screen sitting time with subsequent sickness absence among the adult population. Registry linked follow-up study. A representative sample of Finnish adults (n = 10,300) were asked to fill out a questionnaire for the FinHealth 2017 survey. Self-reported LTPA was classified into three groups: inactive, moderately active, and active, and screen sitting time into two groups: 3 h or less and over three hours a day, yielding a six-category variable for the joint analyses. Questionnaire data were linked to the Finnish Social Insurance Institution's register data on sickness benefits (over 9 days), including diagnoses (follow-up 2.9 years). The analytical samples were restricted to working age (18–64 years), which included 5098 participants. Associations were examined using logistic regression analysis adjusting for covariates with SPSS 29. The inactive and high sitting time had a higher risk for sickness absence due to mental disorders (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.03–4.18) compared with the physically active, low-sitting time group. Additionally, the inactive and low sitting time (OR 1.69 95% CI 1.12–2.55) and the moderately active and high-sitting time groups (OR 2.06 95% CI 1.15–3.67) had a higher risk. No significant associations were found for all-cause and musculoskeletal diseases sickness absence. Employers and policymakers could support reducing sitting in front of a screen and increase LTPA outside working hours to prevent mental health problems and related sickness absences.