Changes in work capacity can provide early signals for who is at risk of sick leave, according to a doctoral thesis from the University of Gothenburg. The findings point to new ways to identify the need for support before employees leave work.
Research on mental health problems in the workplace has long focused on what happens after people go on sick leave. This doctoral thesis instead focuses on what happens before.
"We wanted to understand what characterizes people who remain in work and whether it is possible to identify modifiable factors at an early stage," says Agneta Blomberg, who recently defended her PhD at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.
Early indicator
The thesis is based on data from approximately 8,000 working individuals in Sweden. By combining survey and register data, the researchers examined how mental well-being and work capacity are linked to remaining in work without extended sick leave over one year.
The results show that better mental well-being is associated with higher work capacity. The link is especially clear when work capacity is measured using a more detailed metric that captures how individuals manage their work in relation to their mental health.
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"This type of metric can serve as an early indicator. It makes it possible to identify risks before a person goes on sick leave and provides opportunities for early intervention, particularly in the workplace", says Agneta Blomberg.
Complex pattern
When the researchers analyzed the psychosocial work environment, a more complex pattern emerged than expected. Among women, continued work participation was more common both in jobs with low demands and low control and in jobs with high demands and low control. This does not mean that these working conditions are beneficial. Rather, people in these work environments are exposed to a higher risk of stress-related mental ill health. No corresponding pattern was observed among men.
The results show associations, not causal relationships, and are partly based on self-reported information.
Doctoral thesis: Mental health and work participation: Epidemiological survey and register-based studies among the working population in Sweden
