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Personal Resources and Support When Regaining the Ability to Work: An Interview Study with Exhaustion Disorder Patients

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Abstract

Purpose The aim of the study was to explore experiences and thoughts in the process of returning to work in employed patients with Exhaustion Disorder. Methods Twelve patients with Exhaustion Disorder (burnout) who had been referred to a Stress Rehabilitation Clinic were interviewed. All patients were employed but a majority was on full or part-time sick leave. Grounded Theory was used as the qualitative method. Results A core category, regaining the ability to work, was developed. Alongside, two categories, internal resources and the external support system, were experienced as being important to the process. The internal resources were expressed through three key features (sub-categories), perceived validation, insights and adaptive coping abilities. The external support system was diverse and described by the sub-categories practical/structural and/or emotional support. Four external support actors were identified; the workplace, health care, the Social Insurance Agency, and the union. The supervisor was described as the most important external actor. Conclusions Internal and external resources are intertwined in the process of regaining the ability to work. The internal resources and external support can directly increase the probability to regain the ability to work. Moreover, these resources can affect each other and thus indirectly have an effect on the process.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Lars Dahlgren for valuable comments. This study was funded by the Västerbotten County Council.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden

    Sofia Norlund

  2. Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden

    Anncristine Fjellman-Wiklund, Therese Stenlund & Christina Ahlgren

  3. Department of Psychology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden

    Maria Nordin

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  1. Sofia Norlund
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  2. Anncristine Fjellman-Wiklund
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Correspondence to Sofia Norlund.

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Norlund, S., Fjellman-Wiklund, A., Nordin, M. et al. Personal Resources and Support When Regaining the Ability to Work: An Interview Study with Exhaustion Disorder Patients. J Occup Rehabil 23, 270–279 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-012-9396-7

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