Explanations for sickness absence due to common mental disorders: A narrative study of young health and social care workers.
Sociol Health Illn
; 46(6): 1083-1099, 2024 Jul.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38289869
ABSTRACT
Over recent decades, sickness absence due to common mental disorders has increased among young workers. The phenomenon is mostly understood on the basis of epidemiological research, and knowledge regarding the viewpoints of young workers themselves is lacking. Our study explored the explanations for mental health-related sickness absence in the narrative accounts of young workers in high-risk health and social care occupations. Semi-structured narrative interviews were conducted with 23 Finnish young workers (aged 21-34), with self-reported sickness absence related to common mental disorders over the previous year. Our analysis identified three narrative explanations for the onset of mental health problems leading to sick leave work as the sole cause, work as an additional cause and work as a trigger. These findings indicate that mental health-related sickness absences form a complex phenomenon related to various life and work-related circumstances. More comprehensive preventive measures are needed in the health and social care sector to help tackle mental health problems among young workers.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Sick Leave
/
Mental Disorders
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
Sociol Health Illn
Year:
2024
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Finland