Psychosocial factors predictive of occupational low back disability: towards development of a return-to-work model.
This paper focuses on the identification and testing of potential psychosocial factors contributing to an integrated multivariate predictive model of occupational low back disability. Psychosocial predictors originate from five traditions of psychosocial research: psychopathological, cognitive, diathesis-stress, human adaptation and organizational psychology. The psychosocial variables chosen for this study reflect a full range of research findings. They were investigated using 253 subacute and chronic pain injured workers. Three outcome measures were utilized: return-to-work status, duration of disability and disability costs. The key psychosocial predictors identified were expectations of recovery and perception of health change. Also implicated, but to a lesser degree, were occupational stability, skill discretion at work, co-worker support, and the response of the workers' compensation system and employer to the disability. All psychosocial models were better at predicting who will return than who will not return to work.
Schultz
I Z
IZ
Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education, University of British Columbia, Room 297, 2125 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4. ischultz@telus.net
Crook
J
J
Meloche
G R
GR
Berkowitz
J
J
Milner
R
R
Zuberbier
O A
OA
Meloche
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009790:Occupations; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014942:Workers' Compensation