Abstract
Objective: This study examined specific psychosocial factors associated with psychological and health-related distress amongst employees reporting different chronic illnesses. Methods: The sample consisted of 1029 employees managing either musculoskeletal pain (n=324), arthritis and rheumatism (n=192), asthma (n=174), depression and anxiety (n=152), heart disease (n=96) or diabetes (n=91). Information on psychological distress, work limitations, illness management, disclosure, absence, presenteeism, support and demographic factors were obtained through self-administered questionnaires. Results: Both low psychological well-being and high health-related distress were associated with an increase in work limitations (β=0.20, SE=.03; and β=0.19, SE=.01, respectively), poorer management of illness symptoms at work (β=-0.17, SE=.12; and β=-0.13, SE=.02), high presentieesm (β=0.19, SE=.25; and β=0.14, SE=.05) and low workplace support (β=-0.05, SE=.22; and β=-0.12, SE=.05). Health-related distress was additionally associated with disclosure of illness at work (β=0.18, SE=.08) and long-term sickness absence (β=0.10, SE=.06). Conclusions: To enable individuals to effectively manage both their illness and their work without serious repercussions, it is important for both healthcare professionals and employers alike, to improve the well-being of workers with chronic illness by supporting and facilitating their efforts to over-come health-related limitations at work. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 259-277 |
Number of pages | 19 |
Journal | Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2007 |
Keywords
- absenteeism
- adult
- anxiety
- arthritis
- article
- asthma
- chronic disease
- controlled study
- depression
- diabetes mellitus
- distress syndrome
- female
- heart disease
- human
- job stress
- major clinical study
- male
- mental stress
- musculoskeletal pain
- questionnaire
- rheumatic disease
- social psychology
- wellbeing
- work capacity
- workplace, Adult
- Chronic Disease
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Female
- Health Surveys
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Self Care
- Sick Leave
- Social Adjustment
- Stress, Psychological
- Work
- Workplace