title: Recovery of Work-Related Stress: Complaint Reduction and Work-Resumption are Relatively Independent Processes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The process of recovery from work-related stress, consisting of complaint reduction and work-resumption, is not yet fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate predictors of complaint reduction and work-resumption, as well as testing complaint reduction as a mediator in the association between predictors and work-resumption.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-one patients on sickness-leave because of work-related stress complaints were followed over a period of 13 months. Predictors comprised personal (demographics, coping, cognitions), work-related (job-characteristics, social support), and illness-related (complaint duration, absence duration) variables. Dependent variables were distress complaints, burnout complaints, and work-resumption.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complaints reduced considerably over time to borderline clinical levels and work-resumption increased to 68% at 13 months. Predictors of stronger reduction of distress complaints were male gender, less working hours, less decision authority, more co-worker support, and shorter absence duration. Predictors of stronger reduction of burnout complaints were male gender, lower age, high education, less avoidant coping, less decision authority, more job security, and more co-worker support. Predictors of work-resumption were lower age and stronger reduction of burnout complaints. No indication for a mediating role of burnout complaints between the predictor age and work-resumption was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Complaint reduction and work-resumption are relatively independent processes. Symptom reduction is influenced by individual and work-related characteristics, which holds promise for a multidisciplinary treatment approach for work-related stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, w.devente@uva.nl.
authors.forename: Wieke
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: de Vente
authors.forename: Jan Henk
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kamphuis
authors.forename: Roland W B
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Blonk
authors.forename: Paul M G
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Emmelkamp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D062707:Return to Work / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*