Health, work, and personal-related predictors of time to return to work among employees with mental health problems.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Health, work, and personal-related predictors of time to return to work among employees with mental health problems.

AU - Nielsen, Maj Britt D.

AU - Bültmann, Ute

AU - Madsen, Ida E.H.

AU - Martin, Marie

AU - Christensen, Ulla

AU - Diderichsen, Finn

AU - Rugulies, reiner

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Purpose: To identify health-, personal-and work-related factors predictive of return to work (RTW) in employees sick-listed due to common mental health problems, such as, stress, depression, burnout, and anxiety. Methods: We distributed a baseline questionnaire to employees applying for sickness absence benefits at a large Danish welfare Department (n721). A total of 298 employees returned the questionnaire containing information on possible predictors of RTW. We followed up all baseline responders for a maximum of one year in a national registry of social transfer payments, including sickness absence benefits. Results: At baseline, about 9% of respondents had quit their job, 10% were dismissed and the remaining 82% were still working for the same employer. The mean time to RTW, measured from the first day of absence, was 25 weeks (median21) and at the end of follow-up (52 weeks) 85% had returned to work. In the fitted Cox model we found that fulfilling the DSM-IV criteria for depression predicted a longer time to RTW (HR: 0.61, CI: 0.450.84), whereas a better self-rated health predicted a shorter time to RTW (HR: 1.18, CI: 1.031.34). Employees working in the municipal (HR: 0.62, CI: 0.410.94) and private sector (HR: 0.65, CI: 0.440.96) returned to work slower compared to employees working in the governmental sector. Gender, education, cohabitation, size of workplace, low-back and upper-neck pain and employment at baseline did not predict RTW. Conclusion: Our results indicate that time to RTW is determined by both health-and work-related factors. Implications for Rehabilitation Common mental health problems are one of the leading causes for sickness absence and work disability Return to work after sickness absence is not solely determined by improvements in health but is also affect by individual and work related factors This study showed that self-rated health, occupational sector and depression are predictors of time to return to work in employees with mental health problems

AB - Purpose: To identify health-, personal-and work-related factors predictive of return to work (RTW) in employees sick-listed due to common mental health problems, such as, stress, depression, burnout, and anxiety. Methods: We distributed a baseline questionnaire to employees applying for sickness absence benefits at a large Danish welfare Department (n721). A total of 298 employees returned the questionnaire containing information on possible predictors of RTW. We followed up all baseline responders for a maximum of one year in a national registry of social transfer payments, including sickness absence benefits. Results: At baseline, about 9% of respondents had quit their job, 10% were dismissed and the remaining 82% were still working for the same employer. The mean time to RTW, measured from the first day of absence, was 25 weeks (median21) and at the end of follow-up (52 weeks) 85% had returned to work. In the fitted Cox model we found that fulfilling the DSM-IV criteria for depression predicted a longer time to RTW (HR: 0.61, CI: 0.450.84), whereas a better self-rated health predicted a shorter time to RTW (HR: 1.18, CI: 1.031.34). Employees working in the municipal (HR: 0.62, CI: 0.410.94) and private sector (HR: 0.65, CI: 0.440.96) returned to work slower compared to employees working in the governmental sector. Gender, education, cohabitation, size of workplace, low-back and upper-neck pain and employment at baseline did not predict RTW. Conclusion: Our results indicate that time to RTW is determined by both health-and work-related factors. Implications for Rehabilitation Common mental health problems are one of the leading causes for sickness absence and work disability Return to work after sickness absence is not solely determined by improvements in health but is also affect by individual and work related factors This study showed that self-rated health, occupational sector and depression are predictors of time to return to work in employees with mental health problems

U2 - 10.3109/09638288.2011.641664

DO - 10.3109/09638288.2011.641664

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22200251

SN - 0963-8288

VL - 34

SP - 1311

EP - 1316

JO - Disability and Rehabilitation

JF - Disability and Rehabilitation

IS - 15

ER -