Article

Sick leave and unemployment are highly prevalent among people with
affective disorders. Their depression severity is disabling and inversely related
to having employment. No evidence-based vocational rehabilitation exists for this
target group. Knowledge is therefore needed to understand the psychosocial
factors that affect depression severity in order to develop new rehabilitation
interventions. This study examined relationships between depression severity and
empowerment, working life aspirations, occupational engagement, and quality of
life in unemployed people with affective disorders receiving mental healthcare.
METHOD: In this cross-sectional study of 61 participants, instruments on
psychosocial factors and questions on descriptive sociodemographic and clinical
characteristics were administered. Descriptive, correlation, and regression
statistics were applied. RESULTS: Correlation and regression analyses showed
significant inverse relations between depression severity and empowerment and
quality of life. The odds for more severe depression decreased with higher
empowerment and quality of life. However, neither extent of engagement in daily
life nor working life aspiration was related to depression severity. CONCLUSIONS:
An empowerment approach and strategies, which support the quality of life, are
needed in development of vocational rehabilitation interventions, and bridging of
mental healthcare and vocational services. Implications for Rehabilitation
Enhancing empowerment and quality life in the return to work process can decrease
depression severity in unemployed people with affective disorder. There is a need
to address work issues in addition to symptom reduction in primary and mental
healthcare. Bridging the service and time gap between vocational rehabilitation
and healthcare is recommended for mitigating long-term unemployment for people
with affective disorders who want to work.

Langue : ANGLAIS