The determinants of employee absenteeism: An empirical test of a causal model

• Published in: Journal of Occupational Psychology Vol. 62; no. 1; pp. 1 - 19
• Main Authors: Brooke Jr, Paul P., Price, James L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.1989; Cambridge University Press; British Psychological Society
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Occupational psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Theories; Human; Occupational environment; Self evaluation; Social structure; Models; Job satisfaction; Absenteeism; Social organization; Multivariate analysis; Causality
• ISSN: 0305-8107; 0963-1798; 2044-8325; 2056-8142
• DOI: 10.1111/j.2044-8325.1989.tb00473.x

LISREL estimates of the parameters of a causal model of absenteeism are reported for a sample of 425 full‐time employees of a 327‐bed medical centre. The model modifies and extends the conceptual framework of Steers & Rhodes (1978) and includes routinization, centralization, pay, distributive justice, work involvement, role ambiguity, conflict and overload, kinship responsibility, organizational permissiveness, job satisfaction, job involvement, organizational commitment, health status and alcohol involvement as the determinants of absenteeism. Based on self‐report measures of absence frequency, significant positive direct effects of kinship responsibility, organizational permissiveness, role ambiguity and alcohol involvement, and negative direct effects of centralization, pay and job satisfaction yielded an R2 for absenteeism of 21.6. Job satisfaction completely mediated the effects of routinization and work involvement, and partially mediated the effects of centralization and role ambiguity.