Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van die studie is om die verband tussen werksontevredenheid (as gevolg van vervelige- en roetinewerk asook swak bestuursbenaderings) en werksafwesigheid te bepaal. Werksafwesigheid beïnvloed organisasiedoeltreffendheid nadelig omdat daar 'n tekort aan korrektiewe beamptes is as gevolg van die oorbevolking van gevangenes in Pollsmoor-gevangenis. 'n Omvattende oorsig van gepubliseerde literatuur oor werksafwesigheid het die empiriese navorsing van hierdie studie voorafgegaan. Die volgende doelwitte is bereik in hierdie studie, naamlik: * Om die werksafwesigheidsverskynsel by wyse van 'n literatuuroorsig te beskryf. * Om Pollsmoor-gevangenis se werksafwesigheidsyfers en -statistiek aan te toon en die navorsingspopulasie in terme van werksafwesigheidsgroepe te kategoriseer. * Om response rakende die vlak van tevredenheid met die aard van die werk, bestuursbenaderings en ander derde veranderlikes in die werksomgewing, van 'n verteenwoordigende steekproef van die navorsingspopulasie in te win, te ontleed en te beskryf. * Om bevindings en aanbevelings te maak ten opsigte van werkstevredenheid met vervelige- en roetinewerk, swak bestuursbenaderings asook derde veranderlikes. Die bevindings van hierdie studie behoort voordelig aangewend te kan word deur die Korrektiewe Dienste en akademiese belangegroepe. Die bevindings van hierdie studie verskaf ook waardevolle inligting oor werksafwesigheid vir toekomstige navorsing. Summary The aim of the study is to determine the relationship between work absenteeism and work satisfaction with boring- and routine work, poor management styles and third variables. The following objectives have been reached in this study, namely: * To describe the work absenteeism phenomenon by means of a literature review. * To show Pollsmoor prison's work absenteeism figures and -statistics and to categorize the research population in terms of work absenteeism groups. * To collect, analyse and describe the responses' pertaining to the level of satisfaction with the nature of the work, management styles and third variables in the work environment, from a representative sample of the research population. * To make findings and recommendations with regards to work satisfaction with boring- and routine work, poor management styles and third variables. The findings of this study could be utilized by Correctional Services and academic interest groups. / Business Management / M.Tech.

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van die studie is om die verband tussen werksontevredenheid (as gevolg van vervelige- en roetinewerk asook swak bestuursbenaderings) en werksafwesigheid te bepaal. Werksafwesigheid beïnvloed organisasiedoeltreffendheid nadelig omdat daar 'n tekort aan korrektiewe beamptes is as gevolg van die oorbevolking van gevangenes in Pollsmoor-gevangenis. 'n Omvattende oorsig van gepubliseerde literatuur oor werksafwesigheid het die empiriese navorsing van hierdie studie voorafgegaan. Die volgende doelwitte is bereik in hierdie studie, naamlik: * Om die werksafwesigheidsverskynsel by wyse van 'n literatuuroorsig te beskryf. * Om Pollsmoor-gevangenis se werksafwesigheidsyfers en -statistiek aan te toon en die navorsingspopulasie in terme van werksafwesigheidsgroepe te kategoriseer. * Om response rakende die vlak van tevredenheid met die aard van die werk, bestuursbenaderings en ander derde veranderlikes in die werksomgewing, van 'n verteenwoordigende steekproef van die navorsingspopulasie in te win, te ontleed en te beskryf. * Om bevindings en aanbevelings te maak ten opsigte van werkstevredenheid met vervelige- en roetinewerk, swak bestuursbenaderings asook derde veranderlikes. Die bevindings van hierdie studie behoort voordelig aangewend te kan word deur die Korrektiewe Dienste en akademiese belangegroepe. Die bevindings van hierdie studie verskaf ook waardevolle inligting oor werksafwesigheid vir toekomstige navorsing. Summary The aim of the study is to determine the relationship between work absenteeism and work satisfaction with boring- and routine work, poor management styles and third variables. The following objectives have been reached in this study, namely: * To describe the work absenteeism phenomenon by means of a literature review. * To show Pollsmoor prison's work absenteeism figures and -statistics and to categorize the research population in terms of work absenteeism groups. * To collect, analyse and describe the responses' pertaining to the level of satisfaction with the nature of the work, management styles and third variables in the work environment, from a representative sample of the research population. * To make findings and recommendations with regards to work satisfaction with boring- and routine work, poor management styles and third variables. The findings of this study could be utilized by Correctional Services and academic interest groups. / Business Management / M.Tech.

in English Obstacles to work as a set of legal facts have fundamental influence on employment relations and concern each and every employee as well as employer (correlatively). The goal of this thesis was to explore this area of employment law thoroughly and to indicate individual rights and duties of both parties in employment relations, including those which surpass the Labour Code and its implementing legislation. This was to be accomplished by providing a comprehensive treatise on the subject with solutions to possible unexpected situations not covered in the Labour Code. Obstacles to work are defined as legally acknowledged circumstances that - on the part of the employee - impede or forbid the performance of work, and - on the part of the employer - impede or forbid the assignment of work, in cases when the employee"s absence from work is excused by the employer in compliance with the terms stated by employment laws, internal regulations or employment contract. Compensatory wage or salary and conditions of payment to idle workers are determined by the above-mentioned documents. The introduction of this doctoral thesis deals with the reasons why this particular topic was chosen and introduces Eurostat"s surveys which are further analyzed to the details. The main objective of this thesis is to...

Cette thèse se propose d’aborder les représentations et pratiques des arrêts maladie, essentiellement à partir des discours des travailleurs et d’observations in situ, dans l’aide à domicile et les musiques actuelles. L’hypothèse développée est celle d’une pratique polysémique, intelligente, et morale. Polysémique, car les travailleurs donnent des sens multiples aux arrêts maladie, en font un usage varié : les arrêts protègent leur santé dans des environnements astreignants ; ils servent aussi de message pour alerter collègues ou hiérarchie, en vue d’améliorer le bien-être collectif, de s’élever contre des logiques arbitraires ; ils peuvent enfin être interprétés comme une sanction, au sens de conséquence logique d’une situation (notamment les conditions de travail), et au sens de punition, à l’égard de l’employeur ou du travailleur lui-même. Intelligente, car les travailleurs mènent une réflexion avant de recourir aux arrêts, évaluant leur impact, analysant le contexte, les usages. Ils s’adaptent aux normes en vigueur aux niveaux local et macro-social, essaient à l’occasion de modifier la donne. Ils évoluent dans leurs représentations et leurs actes, apprennent de leur expérience, modifient leurs positions tout au long de leurs carrières (de travailleur, de malade, carrière familiale, …), selon les rôles sociaux qui leur incombent. Morale enfin, car les travailleurs tiennent compte des conséquences de leurs arrêts, dans une attitude de « loyauté » envers leurs collègues, leurs clients, leur travail ou leur entreprise. Ils jugent de la légitimité des arrêts et y recourent, ou non, dans le respect ou la lutte pour un ordre plus juste et conforme aux valeurs du métier. / The purpose of this current doctoral thesis was to investigate sick leave practices and representations, mainly through workers’ discourses and field observation, in the home care and contemporary popular music sectors. The hypothesis is that sick leave is a polysemous, intelligent and moral practice. Polysemous, in the sense that workers give sick leaves various meanings and use them in many different ways: sick leaves protect their health from demanding work environments. They serve as warnings for colleagues and hierarchy, in an attempt to improve collective welfare, to speak out against employer’s hegemony. They can be interpreted as a logical outcome of a given context (mainly poor working conditions and organization), as well as a punishment for the employer or the worker himself. Intelligent, because workers think carefully before they have recourse to sick leave, they assess their ins and outs, analyze the situation, the common practices. They adapt to social norms, at both local and macro-social levels, try when possible to be game changers. Their views and behaviors about sick leaves change over time, they learn from their experience, rethink their positions along their careers (within illness, work, family…), according to the social roles they are expected to endorse. Eventually, sick leaves are a moral practice as workers take into account the consequences of their leave : they behave with « loyalty » towards their colleagues, their clients, their work or their company. They evaluate the legitimacy of sick leaves and use them or not according to this judgment, in the respect or the fight for equity, and the defense of their professional identity and values.

A lombalgia mecânica comum (LMC) representa um problema particularmente importante no ambiente ocupacional, muitas vezes associado a incapacidade, afastamento do trabalho e alto custo socioeconômico. O surgimento da neuroimagem funcional permitiu novos conhecimentos sobre a estrutura cerebral e a fisiologia da dor crônica. Embora os aspectos relacionados ao trabalho sejam importantes fatores de risco para a cronicidade, existem poucos estudos que abordam especificamente a fisiopatologia da LMC em indivíduos afastados do trabalho. A esse respeito, questionamos se um fator como a atenção, conhecida como um importante modulador da dor, poderia desempenhar um papel distintivo na modulação da dor nos indivíduos com LMC afastados do trabalho. Objetivos: comparar os correlatos neuronais entre indivíduos com lombalgia mecânica comum com afastamento do trabalho, com indivíduos lombálgicos sem afastamento. Métodos: Foram selecionados 74 indivíduos com LMC crônica, divididos em três grupos: indivíduos com LMC e afastamento do trabalho (LMC/A); indivíduos com LMC sem afastamento do trabalho (LMC) e indivíduos sem qualquer tipo de dor crônica e sem afastamento do trabalho (Controle). O estudo foi realizado no Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (HIAE). A ressonância magnética funcional (RMf) foi utilizada durante o desempenho de dois paradigmas (dor e atenção). Resultados: Após a estimulação dolorosa, na comparação entre os grupos, verificamos diferença significativa na condição estimulação > repouso, sendo que o contraste LMC > LMC/A mostrou maior resposta hemodinâmica (efeito BOLD) no córtex cingulado anterior e giro frontal superior e médio direito (p < 0,001). No contraste controles > LMC/A, o grupo controle apresentou maior efeito BOLD em região do polo frontal e paracingulado (p = 0,002). Conclusão: Nosso estudo corrobora o conceito de que a presença de dor crônica está associada a uma alteração na plasticidade neuronal em áreas cerebrais que se estendem além das regiões somatossensoriais, para incluir áreas que processam emoções / Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a particularly important problem in the occupational environment, often associated with incapacity, sick leave and high socioeconomic cost. The emergence of functional neuroimaging allowed new insights into the brain structure and physiology of chronic pain. Although work-related aspects are important risk factors for chronicity, there are few studies that specifically address the pathophysiology of CLBP in individuals with sick leave. In this regard, we questioned whether a factor such as the attention known as an important pain modulator could play a distinctive role in modulating pain in individuals with CLBP with sick leave. Objective The overall objective of this study is to compare the neuronal correlates between groups of individuals CLBP with or without sick leave. Methods We selected 74 individuals, divided into three groups: individuals with CLBP, functional incapacity and sick leave (CLBP_L); individuals with CLBP, functional disability without sick leave (CLBP_NL); individuals without any form of chronic pain and without sick leave (Control). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used during the performance of two paradigms (pain and attention).Results After painful stimulation, a significant difference was observed in the stimulation > rest condition, while the CLBP > CLBP_L contrast showed a higher hemodynamic response in the anterior cingulate cortex and the right medium /superior frontal gyrus (p < 0.001) and in contrast controls > CLBP_L, the control group presented higher hemodynamic response in the frontal pole and paracingulate region (p = 0.002).Conclusions Our study corroborates the idea that the presence of chronic pain is associated with an alteration in neuronal plasticity involving brain areas linked to emotions and not just somatosensory areas

<p>Background: Because of the high unhealthy rates among women in the com-mune a project to reduce it have begun. For this reason we have been given the mission from the commune of Sotenäs to study the character of these women's health. Objective: To study the health among permanent employed women in the commune of Sotenäs. Method: Quantitative method. The data have been collected through question-naire survey. The purpose of choosing this method was to be able to see connec-tions between various variables. Result: A large number of women who do not have time to carry out their duties during ordinary working hours have experienced that they are tense and anxious, which means that this mental demand may have affected women's health. The study reveals that many of the women who have not received enough informa-tion from their employer to perform their duties have experienced that they are worn out. The majority of women who lacked in development opportunities at work felt tense. These results imply that small decision latitudes could be one of the explanations of a lower level of health among women. The study identified a number of potential explanations for the sick leave in the commune, as the women felt tense and anxious. Adequate emotional support from friends and family, and a satisfactory everyday social life was related to a low degree of anxiety. A good distribution of practical domestic duties at home was a factor related to a low degree of tension among the permanent employed women in the commune of Sotenäs.</p> / <p>Bakgrund: På grund av det höga ohälsotalet bland kvinnorna i Sotenäs kom-mun har ett arbete med att reducera detta påbörjats. Vi fick därför i uppdrag av Sotenäs kommun att undersöka karaktären på dessa kvinnors hälsa.</p><p>Syfte: Att kartlägga hälsan bland tillsvidareanställda kvinnor i Sotenäs kommun och hur den påverkas av psykosociala faktorer i arbets- och privatliv.</p><p>Metod: Kvantitativ metod. Datainsamlingstekniken som tillämpades var enkät. Denna valdes för att kunna genomföra sambandsanalyser mellan olika faktorer.</p><p>Resultat: Ett stort antal kvinnor som inte hinner utföra sina arbetsuppgifter un-der ordinarie arbetstid uppgav att de är spända och utslitna, vilket innebär att detta psykiska krav kan ha påverkat kvinnornas hälsa. I undersökningen fram-kom vidare att många av kvinnorna som inte mottagit tillräckligt med informa-tion från sin arbetsgivare för att utföra sina arbetsuppgifter att de kände sig ut-slitna. Majoriteten av kvinnorna med bristande utvecklingsmöjligheter i arbetet kände sig spända. Dessa resultat antyder att ett litet beslutsutrymme kan vara en av förklaringarna till en lägre grad av hälsa bland kvinnorna. I undersökningen framkom några möjliga förklaringar till sjukskrivningarna i kommunen, såsom att kvinnorna kände sig spända och utslitna. Ett tillfredsställande emotionellt stöd från vänner och familj, samt ett tillfredsställande vardagligt socialt liv kun-de relateras till en låg grad av oro. En god fördelning av praktiska vardagssyss-lor i hemmet var faktorer, vilka kunde relateras till en låg grad anspänning bland de tillsvidareanställda kvinnorna i Sotenäs kommun.</p>

<p><i>Objectives.</i> To study the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among farmers as compared to rural referents and to evaluate the effects of physical work exposures, psychosocial factors, lifestyle and comorbidity.</p><p><i>Material and methods.</i> A cross-sectional population-based survey of 1013 farmers and 769 matched referents was performed. Data on various symptoms, consultations and sick leave and information on primary health care and hospital admissions were obtained along with information on physical workload, psychosocial factors and lifestyle. </p><p><i>Results.</i> The farmers reported higher lifetime prevalence of symptoms from hands and forearms, low back and hips as compared to the referents. However, the farmers did not seek medical advice more often than the referents, and they reported significantly fewer sick leaves. After adjustment for the influence of physical work exposure, farmers still had a excess rate of low back pain (LBP) and hip symptoms as compared with the referents, while a lower rate of neck-shoulder symptoms was revealed. Several of the psychosocial variables were associated with LBP but the difference in LBP prevalence between farmers and referents could only be explained to some extent. LBP was associated with musculoskeletal symptoms other than LBP and with chest discomfort, dyspepsia, symptoms from mucous membranes, skin problems, work-related fever attacks, and primary care for digestive disorders. Presence of both respiratory and digestive disorders doubled the LBP prevalence.</p><p><i>Conclusions.</i> Symptoms from hips and low back were more frequent among farmers than among referents, but farmers did not seek more health care and reported fewer sick leaves than referents. Physical work exposure and psychosocial factors did not explain the differences in low back and hip symptoms between the two groups. Significant associations between LBP and digestive and respiratory disorders might indicate that these disorders may have etiological factors in common.</p>

The primary aim of this investigation was to evaluate a seven-week multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme, with emphasis on musculoskeletal disorders, for working-age people, by assessments at the start and end of the rehabilitation programme, and at follow-up examinations 6, 12 and 24 months after completion of the programme. A further aim was to explore the experiences of people not returning to work during a period of six years after participation in an extensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme. Sixty participants, 40 women and 20 men (mean age 46.8 ± SD 7.9), with musculoskeletal disorders, mainly neck and back pain, participated in a 7- week rehabilitation programme which was based on a combination of theoretical and practical education, physical activities, relaxation and individual guidance. Before and after the programme and at the follow-up occasions all participants were evaluated with the Global Self-Efficacy Index (GSI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD), and Stress test (Study I). A group of participants who were still full-time sick-listed (Group I) at the end of the study period were compared with participants who were part-time or not sick-listed (Group II) at the end of the study period (II, III, IV). They were evaluated with the Disability Rating Index (DRI), with the Pain Intensity Rating Index on a visual analogue scale (VAS) (II, III)), mobility tests (III), GSI (III), HAD, and a stress test (IV). Seven women (median age 48 years) and three men (53 years) (Group I) were interviewed and the interviews were analysed by manifest content analysis (V). At the 2-year follow-up full-time sick leave, anxiety, depression and selfexperienced stress had decreased in both sexes. They also showed increased quality of life (QoL) (I). In participants with full-time sick leave (Group I), self-experienced physical disability and pain ratings were high and showed no decrease up until the 2-year follow-up. In participants with part-time or no sick leave (Group II), physical disability and pain ratings decreased gradually throughout the 2-year follow-up period (II). Cervical and thoracolumbar spine range of motion (ROM) was lower in Group I than in Group II from the start of rehabilitation to a 2-year follow-up. Only Group II showed a temporal improvement in ROM. No changes in DRI, VAS or GSI were found in parallel with corresponding temporal changes in any of the ROM (III). Group I experienced no change in anxiety or depression during the study period, in contrast to Group II, in which this decreased. Decreased stress was found in both groups (IV). Group I described perceived barriers to and possibilities of returning to work, and also gave information on what strategies they used, to cope with everyday life (V). The majority of the participants improved and they continued to be physically active, their QoL improved, and most participants returned to work. Ten of the participants, however, were on full-time sick leave throughout the whole study period, with high self-experienced physical disability, high pain rating and no improvement in anxiety and depression. They experienced barriers to re-entering the labour market as consequences of physical symptoms and fatigue. But they also believed in possibilities of returning to work if they could get a modified job adapted to their own capacity. Thus, persons with severe disability and pain did not improve by rehabilitation in this project. New methods of treatment have to be developed for improvement of symptoms resulting in reduction of functional impairment and a consequent need for sick leave. / Huvudsyftet med undersökningen var att utvärdera ett 7-veckors multidisciplinärt rehabiliteringsprogram inriktat på muskuloskeletala besvär, för arbetsföra kvinnor och män, vid start och efter rehabiliteringsprogrammets slut samt vid 6, 12 och 24 månader. Vidare var syftet att undersöka deltagares upplevelse av att inte återgå i någon form av arbete sex år efter deltagande i rehabiliteringsprogrammet. Sextio deltagare, 40 kvinnor och 20 män (medelålder 46.8 ±7.9), med muskuloskeletala besvär, framför allt nack- och ryggbesvär, deltog i ett 7- veckors rehabiliteringsprogram som innehöll en kombination av teoretisk och praktisk undervisning, fysisk aktivitet, avslappning och individuell vägledning. Deltagarna testades före och efter rehabiliteringsprogrammet samt vid uppföljningstillfällena med Globalt Självskattnings Index (GSI), Hospital Anxitey and Depression Scale (HAD) och stress test (Studie I). En grupp deltagare som fortfarande var helt sjukskriven (Grupp I) i slutet av studieperioden, jämfördes med deltagare som var delvis eller inte alls sjukskriven (Grupp II) vid studieperiodens slut (II, III, IV). De utvärderades med Disability Rating Index (DRI), smärtskattning med visuell analog skala (VAS) (II,III), rörlighetsmätning (III), GSI (III), HAD, och stress test (IV). Sju kvinnor (median ålder 48 år) och tre män (53 år) (Grupp I) intervjuades och intervjuerna analyserades med manifest innehållsanalys (V). Vid två års uppföljning hade heltidssjukskrivning, ångest/oro, depression och självupplevd stress minskat hos båda könen. De visade också ökad livskvalitet (I). Deltagarna som var helt sjukskrivna (Grupp I) hade hög självskattad funktionsnedsättning samt smärtskattning och visade ingen förändring vid två års uppföljning. Deltagarna som var delvis eller inte alls sjukskrivna (Grupp II) visade en gradvis förbättring av fysisk funktion och smärtskattning under studieperioden (II). Cervical och thoracolumbar rörlighet var mindre i Grupp I jämfört med i Grupp II från start till två års uppföljning. Endast Grupp II visade en temporär förbättring av den aktiva rörligheten. DRI, VAS och GSI förändrades inte parallellt med förändringarna i den aktiva rörligheten (III). Grupp I upplevde ingen förändring i ångest/oro eller depression under studie perioden jämfört med Grupp II, som minskade ångest/oro och depression. Båda grupperna skattade mindre stress (IV). I studie V beskrevs deltagarnas upplevelser av hinder och möjligheter för att återgå i arbete. De beskrev vidare vilka strategier som användes för att hantera vardagslivet. Majoriteten av deltagarna förbättrades och de fortsatte att vara fysiskt aktiva, livskvaliteten förbättrades och de flesta deltagarna återgick i arbete. Tio av deltagarna var helt sjukskrivna under hela studieperioden, med hög självskattad fysisk funktionsnedsättning, hög smärtskattning och ingen förbättring i ångest/oro eller depression. De upplevde hinder för återgång i arbete, en konsekvens av de fysiska symtomen och trötthet. De trodde också på möjlighet till återgång i arbete om de kunde få ett arbete anpassat till deras egen arbetsförmåga. Alltså, personer med stor funktionsnedsättning och hög smärta förbättrades inte av rehabilitering i det här projektet. Nya metoder av behandling behöver utvecklas för att förbättra symtomen och därmed minska funktionell försämring och behovet av sjukskrivning.

Objectives. To study the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among farmers as compared to rural referents and to evaluate the effects of physical work exposures, psychosocial factors, lifestyle and comorbidity. Material and methods. A cross-sectional population-based survey of 1013 farmers and 769 matched referents was performed. Data on various symptoms, consultations and sick leave and information on primary health care and hospital admissions were obtained along with information on physical workload, psychosocial factors and lifestyle. Results. The farmers reported higher lifetime prevalence of symptoms from hands and forearms, low back and hips as compared to the referents. However, the farmers did not seek medical advice more often than the referents, and they reported significantly fewer sick leaves. After adjustment for the influence of physical work exposure, farmers still had a excess rate of low back pain (LBP) and hip symptoms as compared with the referents, while a lower rate of neck-shoulder symptoms was revealed. Several of the psychosocial variables were associated with LBP but the difference in LBP prevalence between farmers and referents could only be explained to some extent. LBP was associated with musculoskeletal symptoms other than LBP and with chest discomfort, dyspepsia, symptoms from mucous membranes, skin problems, work-related fever attacks, and primary care for digestive disorders. Presence of both respiratory and digestive disorders doubled the LBP prevalence. Conclusions. Symptoms from hips and low back were more frequent among farmers than among referents, but farmers did not seek more health care and reported fewer sick leaves than referents. Physical work exposure and psychosocial factors did not explain the differences in low back and hip symptoms between the two groups. Significant associations between LBP and digestive and respiratory disorders might indicate that these disorders may have etiological factors in common.

Background: Because of the high unhealthy rates among women in the com-mune a project to reduce it have begun. For this reason we have been given the mission from the commune of Sotenäs to study the character of these women's health. Objective: To study the health among permanent employed women in the commune of Sotenäs. Method: Quantitative method. The data have been collected through question-naire survey. The purpose of choosing this method was to be able to see connec-tions between various variables. Result: A large number of women who do not have time to carry out their duties during ordinary working hours have experienced that they are tense and anxious, which means that this mental demand may have affected women's health. The study reveals that many of the women who have not received enough informa-tion from their employer to perform their duties have experienced that they are worn out. The majority of women who lacked in development opportunities at work felt tense. These results imply that small decision latitudes could be one of the explanations of a lower level of health among women. The study identified a number of potential explanations for the sick leave in the commune, as the women felt tense and anxious. Adequate emotional support from friends and family, and a satisfactory everyday social life was related to a low degree of anxiety. A good distribution of practical domestic duties at home was a factor related to a low degree of tension among the permanent employed women in the commune of Sotenäs. / Bakgrund: På grund av det höga ohälsotalet bland kvinnorna i Sotenäs kom-mun har ett arbete med att reducera detta påbörjats. Vi fick därför i uppdrag av Sotenäs kommun att undersöka karaktären på dessa kvinnors hälsa. Syfte: Att kartlägga hälsan bland tillsvidareanställda kvinnor i Sotenäs kommun och hur den påverkas av psykosociala faktorer i arbets- och privatliv. Metod: Kvantitativ metod. Datainsamlingstekniken som tillämpades var enkät. Denna valdes för att kunna genomföra sambandsanalyser mellan olika faktorer. Resultat: Ett stort antal kvinnor som inte hinner utföra sina arbetsuppgifter un-der ordinarie arbetstid uppgav att de är spända och utslitna, vilket innebär att detta psykiska krav kan ha påverkat kvinnornas hälsa. I undersökningen fram-kom vidare att många av kvinnorna som inte mottagit tillräckligt med informa-tion från sin arbetsgivare för att utföra sina arbetsuppgifter att de kände sig ut-slitna. Majoriteten av kvinnorna med bristande utvecklingsmöjligheter i arbetet kände sig spända. Dessa resultat antyder att ett litet beslutsutrymme kan vara en av förklaringarna till en lägre grad av hälsa bland kvinnorna. I undersökningen framkom några möjliga förklaringar till sjukskrivningarna i kommunen, såsom att kvinnorna kände sig spända och utslitna. Ett tillfredsställande emotionellt stöd från vänner och familj, samt ett tillfredsställande vardagligt socialt liv kun-de relateras till en låg grad av oro. En god fördelning av praktiska vardagssyss-lor i hemmet var faktorer, vilka kunde relateras till en låg grad anspänning bland de tillsvidareanställda kvinnorna i Sotenäs kommun.