RESEARCH - Arthritis and employment: an examination of behavioral coping efforts

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Arthritis Rheum. 2005 Jun 15;53(3):328-36.

Arthritis and employment: an examination of behavioral coping efforts to

manage workplace activity limitations.

Gignac MA.

Division of Outcomes & Population Health, The Toronto Western Research

Institute at the University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

gignac@...

OBJECTIVE: To examine ways in which individuals with arthritis manage their

employment and health by focusing on the type and determinants of diverse

behavioral coping strategies used to manage activity limitations, and to

examine the relationship between coping behaviors and participation in

employment. METHODS: The study group comprised 492 patients with

osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. All participants were employed, and

all participants were administered an in-depth, structured questionnaire.

The study used an inductive approach and distinguished among 4 categories of

coping behaviors as follows: adjustments to time spent on activities;

receipt of help; modification of behaviors; and anticipatory coping.

RESULTS: Fewer coping behaviors were reported at the workplace than outside

of the workplace. Anticipatory coping was used most often in the workplace.

Workplace activity limitations were related to increased reports of all

types of coping. Women, those with more joints affected, and people

expecting to remain employed reported more anticipatory coping. Expectations

of continued employment were also related to modifications of activities, as

was longer disease duration and discussing arthritis with one's employer.

Help from others was associated with talking to an employer and positive job

perceptions. Compared with work, reports of a greater number of coping

behaviors used at home were associated with changes in overall work

participation (e.g., absenteeism).

CONCLUSION: These results expand our understanding of the experience of

having a chronic illness and working and highlight the ways in which people

accommodate to workplace limitations by using a variety of different

behavioral coping efforts to remain employed.

PMID: 15934119

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=1\

5934119 & dopt=Abstract

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