Evaluation parents are less likely than non-parents to be ill

Mothers and fathers over 40 have fewer days off than childless colleagues
If you have children, you will rarely miss the job. This shows the current "Health Report 2016" of Techniker Krankenkasse (TK). According to statistics, employees with family-insured children were statistically 2.3 days less ill-written last year than childless workers. In addition, according to a press report, the TK had shown across all age groups that fathers and mothers were prescribed less psychotropic drugs than working people without children.

More than two days difference between working with and without children
"Children are good for your health". This informs the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) with regard to their "Health Report 2016", which was presented on Wednesday in Berlin. As the report shows, employees with family-insured children were less ill in 2015 than those without children. Accordingly, the employees insured with TK were on sick leave last year for an average of 15.4 days. Mothers and fathers with family-insured children were missing one day less with 14.3 days, whereas those without children were well above the average with 16.5 days, according to the TK report.

The family helps many working people reduce stress and thereby promotes good health. (Image: drubig-photo / fotolia.com)

Family has a positive effect on the health
For the report, the health insurance had evaluated the sick leave and drug data of their 4.6 million insured workforce. The main topic this year was the so-called "sandwich generation" between 30 and 44 years. "We often talk about the double burden of family and work in this generation. For many employees it is even a triple burden, if they also care for their parents. That's why I think it's good and important to show that family is also a resource that has a positive effect on health, "said TK's CEO Dr. med. Jens Baas, according to the message. Accordingly, reconciliation deserves greater prominence in the health management of companies and health insurances. "As we now see, this is not only cosmetic for the employer image, but also business wise," says Dr. Baas continues.

Difference increases with age
It is striking, however, that this trend is only apparent from the age of 40 years, explains dr. Thomas Grobe from the AQUA Institute, who evaluated the data for the health insurance. Because in the younger years, the absenteeism of parents would be even higher. Only "from 40, the relationship turns around and they are less incapacitated for work". The "scissors" then go with increasing age more and more apart, so that in the over 55-year-olds, the difference is even more than a week, the expert continues.

Parents get less psychotropic drugs
By contrast, age does not matter when prescribing medication. Rather, the report shows that working mothers and fathers with family-insured children across all age groups in 2015 were prescribed fewer psychotropic drugs than employees without offspring. According to the TK, the difference was three men and almost seven daily doses for women.

The fact that children and family seem to provide a good balance, confirmed according to the TK, the results of previous investigations of the fund. "We know from our population-representative surveys that family and friends are always top of the list when we ask about anti-stress strategies," Dr. Sabine Voermans, Head of TC prevention, according to the communication. (No)