Testing the Construct Validity and Responsiveness of the Single-Item Presenteeism Question

Objective We tested the construct validity and responsiveness of a single-item instrument for measuring absolute presenteeism-the single-item presenteeism question (SPQ). Methods Two self-report questionnaire surveys were conducted among employees of 24 small- or medium-sized companies (N = 1021) concerning the recognized predictors of presenteeism-absenteeism, subjective health risks, work engagement, and workplace social capital. Responsiveness was measured by determining whether changes in the presence of predictors between the surveys were accompanied by commensurate changes in SPQ presenteeism. Results SPQ presenteeism exhibited significant associations with the predictors, denoting adequate construct validity. Regarding responsiveness, unfavorable changes in most predictors were associated with increased SPQ presenteeism, as expected. Conclusions We confirmed the construct validity and responsiveness of the SPQ-an instrument that can be employed to promote workplace health and productivity management.