Healing a Vulnerable Self

Exploring Return to Work for Women With Mental Health Problems

Bibliographic Data

ID4655682
AuthorsMaj Britt Dahl Nielsen (0000-0002-5758-8031, National Research Centre for the Working Environment), Reiner Rugulies (0000-0002-7752-131X, National Research Centre for the Working Environment), Charlotte Hjortkjaer (National Research Centre for the Working Environment), Ute Bültmann (0000-0001-9589-9220, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands), Ulla Christensen (0000-0001-7797-6640, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark)
Year2013
Volume23
Issue3
Pages302-312
Publication date2013-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueQualitative Health Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1049-7323 • E-ISSN: 1552-7557
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1049732312468252
PMID23202477
OpenAlexW2118647672
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited33

Mental health problems (MHPs) such as stress and depression are among the leading causes of work disability. In this article we explore how women with MHPs experience sickness absence and subsequent return to work. We conducted 16 semistructured interviews and employed constructivist grounded theory for the analysis. We found that whereas sickness absence constituted a major threat to positive self-images, the experience had potential as a personal growth experience: Although some women felt handicapped, others became stronger and more self-confident. The core of the experience was not the return to work but a process of healing a vulnerable self-the ability both to refocus attention from symptoms to other life goals and to maintain or reconstruct a positive self-image. Supportive health care and acknowledgment from others facilitated the healing process

Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics · Medicine · Psychology · Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications · Resilience and Mental Health