Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Work Factors Related to Psychological and Health-Related Distress Among Employees with Chronic Illnesses

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Yu DSF, Lee DTF, Woo J, Thompson DR. Correlates of psychological distress in elderly patients with congestive heart failure. J Psychosom Res 2004;57:573–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Brisson C, LeBlanc R, Bourbonnais R, et al. Psychologic distress in postmyocardial infarction patients who have returned to work. Psychosom Med 2005;67:59–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Ackerman RT, Rosenman MB, Downs SM, Holmes AM, Katz BP, Li J, et al. Telephonic case-finding of major depression in Medicaid chronic disease management program for diabetes and heart failure. Gen Hosp Psychiat 2005;27:338–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Heijmans M, Rijken M, Foets M, de Ridder D, Schreurs K, Bensing J. The stress of being chronically ill: from disease-specific to task-specific aspects. J Behav Med 2004;27:255–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Curtis R, Groarke A, Coughlan R, Gsel A. Psychological distress as a predictor of psychological adjustment and health status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Patient Ed Counsel 2005;59:192–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Walker JG, Jackson HJ, Littlejohn GO. Models of adjustment to chronic illness: using the example of rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Psychol Rev 2004;24:461–88.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Rief W, Martin A, Klaiberg A, Brähler E. Specific effects of depression, panic and somatic symptoms on illness behaviour. Psychosom Med 2005;67:596–601.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Katon W, Ciechanoswki P. The impact of major depression on chronic medical illness. J Psychosom Res 2002;53:859–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Maes S, Leventhal H, Ridder DTD. Coping with chronic diseases. In: Zeidner M, Endler N, editors. Handbook of coping: theory, research and applications. New York: Wiley; 1996. p. 221–51.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Zautra AJ. Investigations of the ongoing stressful situations among those with chronic illness. Am J Community Psychol 1996;24:697–717.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ben-sira Z. Chronic illness, stress and coping. Soc Sci Med 1984;18:725–36.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Lazarus RS, Folkman S. Stress, appraisal and coping. New York: Springer; 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Livneh H, Lott SM, Antonak RF. Patterns of psychological adaptation to chronic illness and disability: a cluster analytic approach. Psychol, Health Med 2004;9:411–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. Employment and disability: back to work strategies. Luxembourg Office for Official Publications of the European Communities; 2004.

  15. Health & Safety Executive. Self-reported work-related illness 2003/2004. Sudbury, Suffolk: HSE Books; 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Karasek RA. Job demands, job decision latitude, and mental strain: implications for job redesign. Admin Sci Quart 1979;24:285–308.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. De Lange AH, Taris TW, Kompier MAJ, Houtman ILD, Bongers, PM. The relationships between work characteristics and mental health: examining normal, reversed and reciprocal relationships in a 4-wave study. Work Stress 2004;18:149–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Gilbreath B, Benson PG. The contribution of supervisor behaviour to employee psychological well-being. Work Stress 2004;18:255–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Hardy GE, Woods D, Wall TD. The impact of psychological distress on absence from work. J Appl Psychol 2003;88:306–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Karasek RA, Theorell T. Health work: stress, productivity, and the reconstruction of working life. New York: Basic Books; 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Akabas SH, Gates LB. Stress and disability management project. Center for Social Policy and Practice in the Workplace, Columbia University: Report for NIDRR; 1993.

  22. Cox T, Thirlaway M, Gotts G, Cox S. The nature and assessment of general well-being. J Psychosom Res 1983;27:353–59.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Abram HS. The psychology of chronic illness. J Chr Dis 1972;25:641–59.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Randall R, Griffiths A, Cox T. The activation of mechanisms linking judgements of work design and management with musculoskeletal pain. Ergonomics 2002;45:13–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Warr PB. The measurement of well-being and other aspects of mental health. J Occup Psychol 1990;63:193–210.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Burton WN, Chen C, Conti DJ, Schultz AB, Edington DW. The association between health risk change and presenteeism change. J Occup Environ Med 2006;48:252–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Munir F, Leka S, Griffiths A. Dealing with self-management of chronic illness at work: predictors for self-disclosure. Soc Sci Med 2005;60:1397–407.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Aronsson G, Gustafsson K, Dallner M. Sick but yet at work. An empirical study of sickness presenteeism. J Commun Health 2000;54:502–9.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Goetzel RZ, Long, SR, Ozminkowski, RJ, Hawkins K, Wang S, Lynch W. Health, absence, disability, and presenteeism costs estimates of certain physical and mental health conditions affecting U.S. employers. J Occup Environ Med 2004;46:398–412.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Munir F, Leka S, Griffiths A. Work limitations and employer adjustments for employees with chronic illness. In J Rehab Res 2005;28:111–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Huebner DM, Davis M. Gay and bisexual men who disclose their sexual orientations in the workplace have higher workday levels of salivary cortisol and negative affect. Annals Behav Med. 2005;30:260–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Lewin R. Return to work after MI, the roles of depression, health beliefs and rehabilitation. Int J Cardio 1999;72:49–51.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Henderson M, Glozier N, Elliot KH. Long term sickness absence – is caused by common conditions and needs managing. Brit Med J 2005;330:802–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Baruch Y. Response rate in academic studies – a comparative analysis. Hum Rel 1999;52:345–53.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Roth PL, BeVier CA. Response rates in HRM?OB survey research: norms and correlates, 1990–1994. J Manage 1998;24:97–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Ibeh K, Brock JK-U, Zhou YJ. The drop and collect survey among industrial populations: theory and empirical evidence. Ind Market Manage 2004;33:155–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. Employment and disability: back to work strategies. Luxembourg Office for Official Publications of the European Communities; 2003.

  38. Dewa CS, Lin E. Chronic physical illness, psychiatric disorder and disability in the workplace. Soc Sci Med 2000;51:41--50.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Lerner D, Amick BC, Malspeis S, Rogers WH. A national survey of health-related work limitations among employed persons in the United States. Disabil Rehab 2000;22:225–32.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. World Health Organization. International classification of diseases -- version 10. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Pincus Y, Esther R, DeWalt DA, Callaghan LF. Social conditions and self-management are more powerful determinants of health than access to healthcare. Ann Intern Med 1998;129:406–11.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Lorig K, Stewart A, Ritter P, Gonzalez V, Laurent D, Lynch J. Outcome measures for health education and other health care interventions. Sage, Thousand Oaks; 1996.

  43. Clark NM, Dodge, JA. Exploring self-efficacy as a predictor of disease management. Health Educ Behav 1999;26:72–89.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Lerner DJ, Amick III BC, Rogers WH, Malspeis S, Bungay K. The work limitations questionnaire: a self-administered instrument for assessing on-the-job work disability. Med Care 2001;39:72–85.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Thomson L, Griffiths A, Davison S. Employee absence, age and tenure: a study of nonlinear effects and trivariate models. Work Stress 2000;14:16–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Hanebuth D, Meinel M, Fischer JE. Health-related quality of life, psychosocial work conditions, and absenteeism in an industrial sample of blue- and white-collar employees: a comparison of potential predictors. J Occup Environ Med 2006;48:28–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Johns G. Absenteeism estimates by employers and managers: divergent perspectives and self-serving perceptions. J Appl Psychol 1994;79:229–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Kirchmeyer C, Cohen A. Different strategies for managing the work/non-work interface: a test for unique pathways to work outcomes. Work Stress 1999;13:59–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Johns G. How often were you absent? A review of self-reported absence data. J Appl Psychol 1994;79:574–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Stewart AL, Hays RD, Ware JE. Health perceptions, energy/fatigue, and health distress measures. In: Stewart AL, Ware JE, editors. Measuring functioning and well-being: the medical outcomes study approach. Durham, NC: Duke University Press; 1992. p. 143–72.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Gignac AM, Badley EM, LaCaille D, Cott CC, Adam P, Anis AH. Managing arthritis and employment: making arthritis-related work changes as a means of adaptation. Arth Rheum 2004;15:909–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Gignac AM. Arthritis and employment: an examination of behavioural coping efforts to manage workplace activity limitations. Arth Rheum 2005;3:328–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Burton WN, Pransky G, Conti DJ, Chen C-Y, Edington DW. The association of medical conditions and presenteeism. J Occup Environ Med 2004;46:S38–45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Caplan G. Support systems and community mental health. New York: Basic Books; 1974.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the European Social Fund awarded to the first author during her employment at the Institute of Work, Health and Organisations (IWHO), University of Nottingham UK, where the work was carried out.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Sciences, Brockington Building, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK

    Fehmidah Munir & Cheryl Haslam

  2. Goldsmiths College, University of London, New Cross, London, SE14 7NW, UK

    Joanna Yarker

  3. Organisational Development Team, Department of Work and Pensions, B3 Porterbrook House, 7 Pear Street, Sheffield, S11 8JF, UK

    Helen Long

  4. Institute of Work, Health & Organisations, University of Nottingham, University Boulevard, Nottingham, NG7 2RQ, UK

    Stavroula Leka, Amanda Griffiths & Sara Cox

Authors
  1. Fehmidah Munir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joanna Yarker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cheryl Haslam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Helen Long
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Stavroula Leka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Amanda Griffiths
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Sara Cox
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fehmidah Munir.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Munir, F., Yarker, J., Haslam, C. et al. Work Factors Related to Psychological and Health-Related Distress Among Employees with Chronic Illnesses. J Occup Rehabil 17, 259–277 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-007-9074-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-007-9074-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation