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Return-to-Work Self-Efficacy and Actual Return to Work Among Long-Term Sick-Listed Employees

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Abstract

Objective Considering the costs incurred by sickness absence and the implications for the workers’ quality of life, a fast return to work (RTW) is important. Self-efficacy (SE) seems to be an important predictor of RTW for employees with mental health problems. The predictive value of return-to-work self-efficacy (RTW-SE) has not been examined in employees on long-term sickness absence due to any cause. The aim of this study is to investigate whether RTW-SE is a predictor of time to RTW in long-term sick-listed employees with all-cause sickness absence. Furthermore, the relative contribution of RTW-SE in predicting RTW will be examined compared to health-related, job-related and personal factors. Methods In a longitudinal study, sick-listed employees who were currently on sick leave for more than 4 weeks filled out a self-report questionnaire. Demographics, health-related, personal, and job-related factors, and RTW-SE were measured. Employees were followed for 2 years to determine the duration until full RTW. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with time to RTW. Results Data were collected from 493 sick-listed employees. RTW-SE was a significant predictor of RTW. In a multivariate model, low RTW-SE, the thought of not being able to work while having symptoms (illness behaviour) and having chronic medical conditions were predictors of a longer duration until RTW. Conclusion When guiding long-term sick-listed employees, it is important to focus on factors such as SE and illness behaviour, instead of just focusing on the symptoms of the sick-listed employee.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank S.E. Lagerveld and colleagues for providing us the RTW-SE questionnaire and we would like to thank M. Tuithof for her assistance with the analyses.

Conflict of interests

The Trimbos-institute received funding for Collaborative Care trials for depression from the Foundation for Innovation of Health Insurers (Innovatiefonds Zorgverzekeraars), received payment for a presentation at the IJIC conference, received grants for a Collaborative Care trial for anxiety from the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw), and received grants for an independent investigator initiated trial about depression and pain from Eli Lilly as well as a systematic review on diabetes and depression from Eli Lilly. C.M. van der Feltz-Cornelis received royalties for books on psychiatry.

Funding

The Trimbos-institute received funding for this study from Achmea Disability Insurance, an income insurer, in The Netherlands.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Trimbos-institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, PO Box 725, 3500 AS, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    D. Volker, M. C. Zijlstra-Vlasveld & C. M. van der Feltz-Cornelis

  2. Tranzo, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    D. Volker, E. P. M. Brouwers & C. M. van der Feltz-Cornelis

  3. Achmea Disability Insurance, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    A. G. C. van Lomwel

  4. Clinical Centre for Body, Mind, and Health, GGZ Breburg, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    C. M. van der Feltz-Cornelis

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  1. D. Volker
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  2. M. C. Zijlstra-Vlasveld
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  3. E. P. M. Brouwers
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  4. A. G. C. van Lomwel
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  5. C. M. van der Feltz-Cornelis
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Correspondence to D. Volker.

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Volker, D., Zijlstra-Vlasveld, M.C., Brouwers, E.P.M. et al. Return-to-Work Self-Efficacy and Actual Return to Work Among Long-Term Sick-Listed Employees. J Occup Rehabil 25, 423–431 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-014-9552-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-014-9552-3

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