Table 1

Descriptive statistics on potential determinants of sickness absence

Variable		Doctors			Controls
		Male					Female		Difference between male and female doctors		Subjects (n)		%	Mean (SD)	Difference between female doctors and controls
		Subjects (n)	%				Mean (SD)	Subjects (n)	Difference between male and female doctors		Subjects (n)		%	Mean (SD)	Difference between female doctors and controls	%	Mean (SD)
Health and behavioural risks:^1-150
Self rated health (poor or average)	248	11		195	10		NS		456	14		NS
Diagnosed illness	251	40		196	33		NS		466	49		NS
Psychiatric morbidity (GHQ case)	247	22		193	27		NS		454	24		NS
Current smoker	239	7		190	7		NS		443	10		NS
Alcohol consumption (g of absolute alcohol/week)	246		195 (201)	194		90 (93)	<0.001		459		61 (70)	<0.001
Physical activity (sedentary)	251	22		196	21		NS		466	21		NS
Work characteristics:
Feeling overloaded	249		3.7 (0.8)	194		3.7 (0.8)	NS		463		3.8 (0.8)	NS
Overtime (h/week)	246		8.9 (7.3)	190		6.5 (7.4)	<0.001		434		2.1 (4.3)	<0.001
On call responsibility (days/month)	251		3.2 (3.4)	195		3.3 (3.0)	NS		—		—	—
Job control	251		4.1 (0.5)	195		4.0 (0.5)	NS		464		4.1 (0.5)	<0.01
Teamwork	251		3.6 (0.6)	194		3.5 (0.5)	NS		464		3.8 (0.5)	<0.001
Social circumstances:
Married	249	88		195	64		<0.001		463	71		NS
Negative life events (⩾1)	251	40		196	43		NS		466	43		NS
Social support	244		10.0 (5.4)	194		12.1 (4.9)	<0.001		462		12.9 (5.4)	NS
Social network (size)	200		19.7 (11.8)	169		18.5 (12.5)	NS		445		21.9 (12.8)	<0.01

↵1-150 Tests of differences in health and behavioural risks are adjusted for age.