Psychosocial Risk Factors and Absenteeism: A Multivariate Case Study in a Metalworking Company in Ecuador

Psychosocial risks are key determinants of occupational absenteeism, yet their role in Ecuador’s manufacturing sector remains underexplored. This study aimed to examine the relationship between psychosocial risk factors and absenteeism in a metalworking company through multivariate analysis.

A cross-sectional, quantitative, and correlational design was applied to all 60 employees of INMEDECOR S.A. (Quito, Ecuador). Psychosocial risks were assessed with the validated National Psychosocial Risk Questionnaire, covering eight dimensions. Absenteeism data were obtained from company records between July 2023 and June 2024, excluding scheduled leaves. Spearman correlations and multiple linear regression were conducted to determine associations between psychosocial dimensions and absenteeism rates.

The company reported an absenteeism rate of 3.83%. The regression model explained 77.1% of the variance in absenteeism. Among the eight psychosocial dimensions, three showed statistically significant associations: workload and work pace (B = -0.331, p = 0.000), recovery (B = -0.168, p = 0.000), and double presence (work–family) (B = -0.418, p = 0.000).

Findings confirmed that psychosocial risks significantly influence absenteeism. Recovery and double presence represented the highest perceived risks, reflecting difficulties in work–life balance and insufficient recovery. Workload and work pace also emerged as central predictors, consistent with international evidence.

Absenteeism in the analyzed metalworking company was strongly associated with psychosocial risk factors. Targeted interventions in workload management, recovery promotion, and work–life balance policies are crucial to reduce absenteeism and safeguard employee well-being in industrial contexts.