scholarly journals Do work- and home-related demands and resources differ between women and men during return-to-work? A focus group study among employees with common mental disorders

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lotta Nybergh ◽  
Gunnar Bergström ◽  
Therese Hellman
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Future Loss

Abstract Background Common mental disorders present the main reason for registered sick leave in Sweden today, and women are at a higher risk of such sick leave than men. The aim of our study was to explore how the experiences of work- and home-related demands as well as resources influence return-to-work among employees sick-listed for common mental disorders in Sweden. Specifically, we aimed to explore similarities and differences in patterns of experiences among women and men. Methods A qualitative design with semi-structured focus group interviews was applied. One pilot interview and six additional focus groups, with a total of 28 participants, were conducted. The focus group discussions were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Data was analyzed with conventional content analysis. Results The analysis resulted in four main categories and eight sub-categories. While the study aim was to explore aspects of work and home, additional considerations related to internal demands and involved actors were also found. The main and sub-categories were “Home-related demands and resources” (sub-categories: “Not on sick leave for home-related demands”, “Feeling responsible for relationships and the well-being of others”, “An affected economy” and “Finding energizing activities and creating routines”), “Work-related demands and resources” (sub-categories: “Encountering tough emotions and an over-bearing feeling of responsibility at work”, “Continued work-related demands create un-certainty about the future”, “Loss of boundaries” and “(Desired) support from managers and colleagues”), “Internal demands and resources” and “Demands and resources linked to involved actors”. The experiences described among women and men were similar in some categories while patterns of experiences differed in others. Conclusions Home-related demands and resources influence return-to-work among women and men sick-listed for common mental disorders in Sweden, also when work-related demands are experienced as the main reason for the sick leave period. Furthermore, several of these aspects were described differently among women and men, which highlights the need to consider possible gender differences in relation to return-to-work, while maintaining attention to individual variations.

scholarly journals Experiences of interventions and rehabilitation activities in connection with return-to-work from a gender perspective. A focus group study among employees on sick leave for common mental disorders

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0253049
Author(s):  
Lotta Nybergh ◽  
Gunnar Bergström ◽  
Irene Jensen ◽  
Therese Hellman
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
Main Category ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Group Interviews

Background Common mental disorders present the main reason for registered sick leave in Sweden today, and women are at a higher risk of such sick leave than men. The aim of this paper is to explore how employees on sick leave for common mental disorders experience interventions and rehabilitation activities during return-to-work, as well as to explore similarities and differences between the experiences of the interviewed women and men. Material and methods A qualitative design was applied with semi-structured focus group interviews. Seven focus groups were conducted with a total of 28 participants (13 women and 15 men). The focus group discussions were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim, and data analyzed with conventional content analysis. Similarities and differences in the women’s and men’s experiences were written down in reflective notes during all steps of the analysis. Results The results comprise of one main category, “To be met with respect and recognition”, and subcategories at two levels. Both similarities and differences emerged in how women and men sick-listed because of common mental disorders experienced return-to-work interventions and rehabilitation activities. It was important for both women and men to be met with respect and recognition, which was essential to all forms of help that the participants discussed during the focus group interviews. Women expressed a need for home-related interventions, whereas men expressed a need for organizational interventions to counter feelings of resignation at work. Women could also more easily understand their mental health condition as compared with men. Conclusion A key implication of this study is that research on interventions and rehabilitation activities during return-to-work among employees on sick leave for common mental disorders should consider whether the findings are relevant equally to both women and men. Similarly, return-to-work professionals may need to consider possible differences among women and men on sick leave for common mental disorders, and to further customize offered interventions and rehabilitation activities. Doing so may help enhance the effectiveness of such interventions.

scholarly journals Early and Late Return to Work After Sick Leave: Predictors in a Cohort of Sick-Listed Individuals with Common Mental Disorders

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 627-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerstin Ekberg ◽  
Charlotte Wåhlin ◽  
Jan Persson ◽  
Lars Bernfort ◽  
Birgitta Öberg
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Common Mental Disorders

Independent medical evaluation for sick-listed workers in Norway: A focus group study of the experience of IME doctors

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aase Aamland ◽  
Irene Øyeflaten ◽  
Silje Maeland
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
Medical Evaluation ◽  
Independent Medical Evaluation ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Norwegian politicians have proposed the use of an independent medical evaluation (IME) as a possible solution for reducing long-term sick leave. The use of an IME implies that a new doctor interferes in the relationship between sick-listed workers and their general practitioner (GP). The aim of the current study was to explore experiences of IME doctors from an ongoing randomized controlled trial (the NIME trial evaluating the effect of IME in Norway). Methods: Two focus group interviews were conducted with eight of the nine IME doctors employed in the NIME trial. The discussions were audio-taped and transcribed. Systematic text condensation was used for analysis. Results: The participants reported that the IME provides important second opinions, which they felt empowered the sick-listed workers and provided new insights into their condition. Beneficial IME working conditions and enhanced insight into different sick leave measures were crucial to this perceived usefulness. Some of the participants expressed disappointment with GPs acting as passive conductors and struggled to provide feedback politely. Some adjustments were proposed as necessary for the IME to be implemented nationwide. Conclusions: The participants seemed to have gained a different stakeholder identity by sometimes seeing GPs, their peers, as obstacles to return to work and welcomed the use of IME on a regular basis.

scholarly journals Beyond Return to Work: The Effect of Multimorbidity on Work Functioning Trajectories After Sick Leave due to Common Mental Disorders

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Ubalde-Lopez ◽  
I. Arends ◽  
J. Almansa ◽  
G. L. Delclos ◽  
D. Gimeno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Work Functioning

scholarly journals A Gender Perspective on Sick Leave Among Young Adults – Barriers and Resources for Return to Work as Experienced by Young Employees and Managers: A Protocol for a Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 160940692110320
Author(s):  
Caroline Olsson ◽  
Helena Tinnerholm Ljungberg ◽  
Elisabeth Björk Brämberg ◽  
Irene Jensen ◽  
Lotta Nybergh
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Sampling Strategy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Oecd Country ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Experiences Of Women

Introduction: About 20% of the working-age population in the average OECD country is suffering from a mental disorder. The prevalence rates are especially high among young adults and women. Young adults need to deal with challenges connected to growing up and entering the labour market, their young age often leaving them with little experience and a low level of preparedness for failure. Moreover, young women and men are confronted with gender norms and expectations that have been found to affect both sick leave and return to work. While managers have been shown to have a significant impact on the well-being of employees, few studies investigate the experiences of both employees and managers in relation to sick leave and return to work among youth. The aim of this study is to investigate perceived causes of sick leave owing to common mental disorders as well as barriers to and resources for return to work for young employees, from the perspectives of both employees and managers. Furthermore, differences and similarities in the patterns of experiences of women and men will be analyzed. Methods and analysis: This study has a qualitative research design. Data will consist of individual interviews with employees aged 19–29 and managers in female- and male-dominated occupations in a Swedish setting. The participants will be recruited using a purposive sampling strategy. The interviews will be analysed in two steps: firstly, a conventional content analysis will be conducted. Secondly, a gender analysis focusing social relations and gender order will be applied to interpret the data by examining differences and similarities in the patterns of experiences of women and men.

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