Seeing an occupational health psychologist reduces sickness absence due to mental disorders: A quasi-experimental study

Jouni Lahti, Jaakko Harkko, Hilla Nordquist, Kustaa Piha, Olli Pietiläinen, Minna Mänty, Ossi Rahkonen, Tea Lallukka, Anne Kouvonen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)
28 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Mental health problems are a major public health and work-life issue. We examined in a quasi-experimental design whether occupational health psychologist (OHP) appointment reduces subsequent sickness absence (SA) due to mental disorders among younger Finnish employees. The present study was conducted among 18-39-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki using register data from the City of Helsinki and the Social lnsurance Institution of Finland. We examined differences in SA days due to mental disorders (ICD-10, F-diagnosed sickness allowances) between those treated (at least one OHP appointment for work ability support) and the comparison group (no OHP appointment) during a one-year follow-up. The full sample (n = 2286, 84% women) consisted of employees with SA due to a diagnosed mental disorder during 2008-2017. To account for the systematic differences between the treatment and comparison groups, the included participants were matched according to age, sex, occupational class, education, previous SA, occupational health primary care visits and psychotropic medication. The weighted matched sample included 1351 participants. In the weighted matched sample, the mean of SA days due to mental disorders was 11.4 (95% CI, 6.4-16.5) for those treated (n = 238) and 20.2 (95% CI, 17.0-23.4) for the comparison group (p < 0.01) during the follow-up year. The corresponding figures in the full sample were (11.1, 6.7-15.4) days for those treated (n = 288) and (18.9, 16.7-21.1) days for the comparison group (p < 0.01). This quasi-experimental study suggests that seeing an OHP to support work ability reduces SA due to mental disorders. 
Original languageEnglish
Article number106611
Number of pages6
JournalPreventive Medicine
Volume149
Early online date11 May 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Employee
  • Mental disorders
  • Mental health
  • Psychologists
  • Young adult

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Seeing an occupational health psychologist reduces sickness absence due to mental disorders: A quasi-experimental study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this