Presenteeism among Japanese IT Employees: Personality, Temperament and Character, Job Strain and Workplace Support, and Mental Disturbance

Abstract

To study correlates of presenteeism among Japanese IT employees, a cross-sectional study in 440 employees of four IT companies were studied with a net-based questionnaire survey. A structural regression analysis revealed that presenteeism was directly associated with common mental symptoms and job strain, common mental symptoms mediated the effects of job strain and poor workplace social support as well as high Harm Avoidance and low Self-directedness and Cooperativeness upon presenteeism. IT company workers presenteeism may be a result of complicated effects of common mental symptoms, job strain and poor workplace social support, and personality traits.

Share and Cite:

Kono, Y. , Uji, M. and Matsushima, E. (2015) Presenteeism among Japanese IT Employees: Personality, Temperament and Character, Job Strain and Workplace Support, and Mental Disturbance. Psychology, 6, 1971-1983. doi: 10.4236/psych.2015.615195.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] Alonso, P., Menchón, J. M., Jiménez, S., Segalàs, J., Mataix-Cols, D., Jaurrieta, N., & Pujol, J. (2008). Personality Dimensions in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Relation to Clinical Variables. Psychiatry Research, 157, 159-168.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2006.06.003
[2] álvarez-Moya, E. M., Jiménez-Murcia, S., Granero, R., Vallejo, J., Krug, I., Bulik, C. M., & Fernández-Aranda, F. (2007). Comparison of Personality Risk Factors in Bulimia Nervosa and Pathological Gambling. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 48, 452-457.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2007.03.008
[3] Anderson, K., & Andrews, G. (2006). Common Mental Disorders in the Workplace: Recent Findings from Descriptive and Social Epidemiology. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 51, 63-75.
[4] Bejerot, S., Schlette, P., Ekselius, L., Adolfsson, R., & von Knorring, L. (1998). Personality Disorders and Relationship to Personality Dimensions Measured by the Temperament and Character Inventory in Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 98, 243-249.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1998.tb10075.x
[5] Bergeman, C. S., Plomin, R., Pedersen, N. L., McClea, G. E., &Nesselroade, J. R. (1990). Genetic and Environmental Influences on Social Support: The Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 45, 101-106.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geronj/45.3.P101
[6] Bolger, N., & Eckenrode, J. (1991). Social Relationships, Personality, and Anxiety during A Major Stressful Event. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 440-449.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.61.3.440
[7] Brown, H. E., Gilson, N. D., Burton, N. W., & Brown, W. J. (2011). Does Physical Activity Impact on Presenteeiasm and Other Indicators of Workplace Well-Being? Sports Medicine, 41, 249-262.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2165/11539180-000000000-00000
[8] Burton, W. N., Pransky, G., Conti, D. J., Chen, C.-Y., & Edington, D. W. (2004). The Association of Medical Conditions and Presenteeism. Journal of Occupational Medicine, 46, s38-s45.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.jom.0000126687.49652.44
[9] Cassin, S. E., & von Ranson, K. M. (2005). Personality and Eating Disorders: A Decade in Review. Clinical Psychology Review, 25, 895-916.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2005.04.012
[10] Celikel, F. C., Kose, S., Cumurcu, B. E., Erkorkmaz, U., Sayar, K., Borckardt, J. J., & Cloninger, C. R. (2009). Cloninger’s Temperament and Character Dimensions of Personality in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 50, 556-5621.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2008.11.012
[11] Cho, S. C., Jung, S. W., Kim, B. N., Hwang, J. W., Shin, M. S., Kim, J. W. et al. (2009). Temperament and Character among Korean Children and Adolescents with Anxiety Disorders. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 18, 60-64.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00787-008-0699-3
[12] Cloninger, C. R. (1999). The Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised. St. Louis., MI: Centre for Psychobiology of Personality, Washington University.
[13] Cloninger, C. R., Svrakic, D. M., & Przybeck, T. R. (1993). A Psychobiological Model of Temperament and Character. Archives of General Psychiatry, 50, 975-990.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1993.01820240059008
[14] Cloninger, C. R., Przybeck, T. R., Svrakic, D. M., & Wetzel, R. D. (1994). The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI): A Guide to Its Development and Use. St. Louis., MI: Centre for Psychobiology of Personality, Washington University.
[15] Cooper, C., & Dewe, P. (2008). Well-Being: Absenteeism, Presenteeism, Coasts and Challenges. Occupational Medicine, 58, 522-524.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqn124
[16] Daley, S. E., Hammen, C., Davila, J., & Burge, D. (1998). Axis II Symptomatology, Depression, and Life Stress during the Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 66, 595-603.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.66.4.595
[17] De Lange, A. H., Taris, T. W., Kompier, M. A., Houtman, I. L. D., & Bongers, P. M. (2003). “The Very Best of the Millennium”: Longitudinal Research and the Demand-Control (Support) Model. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 8, 282-305.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/1076-8998.8.4.282
[18] Engström, C., Bröndström, S., Sigvardsson, S., Cloninger, C. R., & Nylander, P. O. (2004). Bipolar Disorder. I. Temperament and Character. Journal of Affective Disorders, 82, 131-134.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2003.09.004
[19] Evans, C., Connell, J., Barkham, M., Margison, F., McGrath, G., Mellor-Clark, J., & Audin, K. (2002). Towards a Standardized Brief Outcome Measure: Psychometric Properties and Utility of the CORE-OM (Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure). British Journal of Psychiatry, 180, 51-60.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.180.1.51
[20] Evans, C., Mellor-Clark, J., Margison, F., Barkham, M., Audin, K., Connell, J., & McGrath, G. (2000). CORE: Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation. Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 9, 247-255.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/713680250
[21] Evans, L., Akiskal, H. S., Keck Jr., P. E., McElroy, S. L., Sadovnick, A. D., Remick, R. A., & Kelsoe, J. R. (2005). Familiarity of Temperament in Bipolar Disorder: Support for a Genetic Spectrum. Journal of Affective Disorders, 85, 153-168.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2003.10.015
[22] Farmer, A., Harris, T., Redman, K., Sadler, S., Mahmood, A., & McGuffin, P. (2000). Cardiff Depression Study: A Sib-Pair Study of Life Events and Familiarities in Major Depression. British Journal of Psychiatry, 176, 150-155.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.176.2.150
[23] Farmer, A., Mahmood, A., Redman, K., Harris, T., Sadler, S., & McGuffin, P. (2003). A Sib-Pair Study of the Temperament and Character Inventory Scales in Major Depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 60, 490-496.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.60.5.490
[24] Farmer, R. F., & Seeley, J. R. (2009). Temperament and Character Predictors of Depressed Mood over a 4-Year Interval. Depression and Anxiety, 26, 371-381.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/da.20459
[25] Finch, J. F., & Graziano, W. G. (2001). Predicting Depression from Temperament, Personality, and Patterns of Social Relations. Journal of Personality, 69, 27-55.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-6494.00135
[26] Ghazinour, M., Richter, J., & Eisemann, M. (2003). Personality Related to Coping and Social Support among Iranian Refugees in Sweden. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 191, 595-603.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.nmd.0000087186.03513.38
[27] Goetzel, R. Z., Long, S. R., Ozminkowski, R. J., Hawkins, K., Wang, S., & Lynch, W. (2004). Health, Absence, Disability, and Presenteeism Cost Estimates of Certain Physical and Mental Health Conditions Affecting US Employers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 46, 398-412.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.jom.0000121151.40413.bd
[28] Goncalves, D. M., & Cloninger, C. R. (2010). Validation and Normative Studies of the Brazilian Portuguese and American Versions of the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R). Journal of Affective Disorders, 124, 126-133.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2009.11.007
[29] Hansenne, M., Pitchot, W., Moreno, A. G., Machurot, P. Y., & Ansseau, M. (1998). The Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) and Depression. European Psychiatry, 13, 101-103.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0924-9338(98)80026-6
[30] Hansenne, M., Reggers, J., Pinto, E., Kjiri, K., Ajamier, A., & Ansseau, M. (1999). Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and Depression. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 33, 31-36.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3956(98)00036-3
[31] Hazel, N. A., Hammen, C., Brennan, P. A., & Najman, J. (2008). Early Childhood Adversity and Adolescent Depression: The Mediating Role of Continued Stress. Psychological Medicine, 38, 518-589.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0033291708002857
[32] Ida, H., Nakagawa, K., Miura, M., Ishikawa, K., & Yakura, N. (2012). Development of the Work Limitation Questionnaire Japanese Version (WLQ-J): Fundamental Examination of the Reliability and Validity of the WLQ-J. Sangyo Eiseigaku Zasshi, 54, 101-107. (In Japanese)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1539/sangyoeisei.b11011
[33] Janowsky, D. S., Morter, S., Hong, L., & Howe, L. (1999). Myers Biggs Type Indicator and Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire Differences between Bipolar Patients and Unipolar Depressed Patients. Bipolar Disorders, 2, 98-108.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1399-5618.1999.010207.x
[34] Jylhä, P., & Isometsä, E. (2006). Temperament, Character and Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in the General Population. European Psychiatry, 21, 389-395.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2005.09.003
[35] Jylhä, P., Mantere, O., Melartin, T., Suominenm, K., Vuorilehto, M., Arvilommi, P. et al. (2011). Differences in Temperament and Character Dimensions in Patients with Bipolar I and II or Major Depressive Disorder and General Population Subjects. Psychological Medicine, 41, 1579-1591.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0033291710002606
[36] Karasek, R. (1979). Job Demands, Job Decision Latitude and Mental Strain: Implications for Job Redesign. Administrative Science Quarterly, 24, 285-308.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2392498
[37] Kendler, K. S., Karkowski, L. M., & Prescott, C. A. (1999). The Assessment of Dependence in the Study of Stressful Life Events: Validation Using a Twin Design. Psychological Medicine, 29, 1455-1460.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0033291798008198
[38] Kim, S. J., Kang, J. I., & Kim, C. H. (2009). Temperament and Character in Subjects with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 50, 567-572.
[39] Klein, R. B. (2005). Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford.
[40] Koenen, K. C., Moffitt, T. E., Poulton, R., Martin, J., & Caspi, A. (2006). Early Childhood Factors Associated with the Development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Results from a Longitudinal Birth Cohort. Psychological Medicine, 37, 181-192.
[41] Kessler, R. C., Kendler, K. S., Heath, A., Neale, M. C., & Eaves, L. J. (1992). Social Support, Depressed Mood, and Adjustment to Stress: A Genetic Epidemiologic Investigation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 62, 257-272.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.62.2.257
[42] Kusunoki, K., Sato, T., Taga, C., Yoshida, T., Komori, K., Narita, T. et al. (2000). Low Novelty-Seeking Differentiates Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder from Major Depression. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 101, 403-405.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0447.2000.101005403.x
[43] Lerner, D., Adler, D. A., Chang, H., Berndt, E. R., Irish, J. T., Lapitsky, L. et al. (2004). The Clinical and Occupational Correlates of Work Productivity Loss among Employed Patients with Depression. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 46, s46-s55.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.jom.0000126684.82825.0a
[44] Lerner, D., Adler, D. A., Chang, H., Lapitsky, L., Hood, M. Y., Perissinotto, C. et al. (2004). Unemployment, Job Retention, and Productivity Loss among Employees with Depression. Psychiatric Services, 55, 1371-1378.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.55.12.1371
[45] Lerner, D., Amick III, B. C., Lee, J. C., Rooney, T., Rogers, W. H., Chang, H., & Berndt, E. R. (2003). Relationship of Employee-Reported Work Limitations to Work Productivity. Medical Care, 41, 649-659.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.MLR.0000062551.76504.A9
[46] Lerner, D., Amick III, B. C., Rogers, W. H., Malspeis, S., & Bungay, K. (2001). The Work Limitation Questionnaire: A Self-Administered Instrument for Assessing On-the-Job Work Disability. Medical Care, 39, 72-85.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00005650-200101000-00009
[47] Lerner, D., & Henke, R. M. (2008). What Does Research Tell Us about Depression, Job Performance, and Work Productivity? Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 50, 401-410.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e31816bae50
[48] Lerner, D., Reed, J. I., Massarotti, E., Wester, L. M., & Burke, T. A. (2002). The Work Limitation Questionnaire’s Validity and Reliability among Patients with Osteoarthritis. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 55, 197-208.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0895-4356(01)00424-3
[49] Loftus, S. T., Garno, J. L., Jaeger, J., & Malhotra, A. K. (2008). Temperament and Character Dimensions in Bipolar I Disorder: A Comparison to Healthy Controls. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 42, 1131-1136.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2007.11.005
[50] Maciejewski, P. K., Prigerson, H. G., & Mazure, C. M. (2000). Self-Efficacy as a Mediator between Stressful Life Events and Depressive Symptoms: Differences Based on History of Prior Depression. British Journal of Psychiatry, 176, 373-378.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.176.4.373
[51] Marchesi, C., De Panfilis, C., Cantoni, A., Giannelli, M. R., & Maggini, C. (2008). Effect of Pharmacological Treatment on Temperament and Character in Panic Disorder. Psychiatric Research, 158, 147-154.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2006.08.009
[52] Matsudaira, T., & Kitamura, T. (2006). Personality Traits as Risk Factors of Depression and Anxiety among Japanese Students. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62, 97-109.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20215
[53] Middledorp, C. M., Cath, D. C., Beem, A. L., Willemsen, G., & Boomsma, D. I. (2008). Life Events, Anxious Depression and Personality: A Prospective and Genetic Study. Psychological Medicine, 38, 1557-1565.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0033291708002985
[54] Minaya, O., & Fresán, A. (2009). Anxiety Disorders Comorbidity in First-Episode Depressed Patients: Personality Differences Based on the Temperament and Character Inventory. Personality and Individual Differences, 47, 522-526.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2009.05.006
[55] Mörtberg, E., Bejerot, S., & Wistedt, A. Å. (2007). Temperament and Character Dimensions in Patients with Social Phobia: Patterns of Change Following Treatments? Psychiatry Research, 152, 81-90.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2006.10.003
[56] Nery, F. G., Hatch, J. P., Glahn, D. C., Nicoletti, M. A., Monkul, E. S., Najt, P. et al. (2008). Temperament and Character traits in Patients with Bipolar Disorder and Associations with Comorbid Alcoholism or Anxiety Disorders. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 42, 569-577.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2007.06.004
[57] Pallanti, S. (2007). Social Anxiety Disorder and Temperament: Excitatory and Inhibitory Mechanisms on Primary Motor Cortex in Patients and Healthy Controls. European Psychiatry, 22, S284-S284.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2007.01.961
[58] Park, K. O., Wilson, M. G., & Lee, M. S. (2004). Effects of Social Support at Work on Depression and Organizational Productivity. American Journal of Health Behavior, 28, 444-455.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5993/AJHB.28.5.7
[59] Ruchkin, V. V., Schwab-Stone, M., Koposov, R. Vermeiren, R., & Steiner, H. (2002). Violence Exposure, Posttraumatic Stress, and Personality in Juvenile Delinquents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 41, 322-329.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00004583-200203000-00012
[60] Sato, T., Narita, T., Hirano, S., Kusunoki, K., Sakado, K., & Uehara, T. (2001). Is Interpersonal Sensitivity Specific to Non-melancholic Depression? Journal of Affective Disorders, 64, 133-144.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0165-0327(00)00222-6
[61] Sayin, A., Kuruoglu, A. Ç., Güeç, M. Y., & Aslan, S. (2007). Relation of Temperament and Character Properties with Clinical Presentation of Bipolar Disorder. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 48, 448-451.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2007.04.004
[62] Steptoe, A., Cropley, M., & Joekes, K. (1999). Job Strain, Blood Pressure and Response to Uncontrollable Stress. Journal of Hypertension, 17, 193-200.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00004872-199917020-00003
[63] Takagishi, Y., Sakata, M., & Kitamura, T. (2011). Effects of Self-Esteem on State and Trait Components of Interpersonal Dependency and Depression in the Workplace. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 67, 918-926.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20815
[64] Tanaka, E., Kijima, N., & Kitamura, T. (1997). Correlations between the Temperament and Character Inventory and the Self-Rating Depression Scale among Japanese Students. Psychological Reports, 80, 251-254.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1997.80.1.251
[65] Tillman, R., Geller, B., Craney, J. L., Bolhofner, K., Williams, M., Zimerman, B. et al. (2003). Temperament and Character Factors in a Prepubertal and Early Adolescent Bipolar Disorder Phenotype Compared to Attention Deficit Hyperactive and Normal Controls. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 13, 531-543.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/104454603322724922
[66] Tse, W. S., & Bond, A. J. (2003). Consequences of Displaying Abnormal Social Behaviour: Avoidance and Reduction of Social Reinforcement. Journal of Affective Disorders, 75, 49-58.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0165-0327(02)00036-8
[67] Uji, M., Sakamoto, A., Adachi, K., & Kitamura, T. (2012). Psychometric Properties of the Japanese Version of the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 53, 600-608.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2011.09.006
[68] Wachleski, C., Salum, G. A., Blaya, C., Kipper, L., Paludo, A., Salgado, A. P., & Manfro, G. G. (2008). Harm Avoidance and Self-Directedness as Essential Features of Panic Disorder Patients. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 49, 476-481.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2008.03.003
[69] Yoon, S. J., Jun, C. S., An, H. Y., Kang, H. R., & Jun, T. Y. (2009). Patterns of Temperament and Character in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Their Association with Symptom Severity. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 50, 226-231.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2008.08.003

Copyright © 2023 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.