Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40221752›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

The return to work after sick leave due to common mental disorders among young employees: a qualitative interview study with young employees and managers.

Caroline Olsson, Irene Jensen, Lotta Nybergh, Elisabeth Björk Brämberg, Helena Tinnerholm Ljungberg

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Caroline OlssonInstitute of Environmental Medicine, Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research for Worker Health, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, Stockholm, SE-171 77, Sweden. caroline.olsson@ki.se.
Irene JensenInstitute of Environmental Medicine, Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research for Worker Health, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, Stockholm, SE-171 77, Sweden.
Lotta NyberghInstitute of Environmental Medicine, Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research for Worker Health, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, Stockholm, SE-171 77, Sweden.
Elisabeth Björk BrämbergInstitute of Environmental Medicine, Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research for Worker Health, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, Stockholm, SE-171 77, Sweden.
Helena Tinnerholm LjungbergInstitute of Environmental Medicine, Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research for Worker Health, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, Stockholm, SE-171 77, Sweden. helena.tinnerholm.ljungberg@ki.se.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundStudies focusing on the return for young employees are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the return to work process after a period of sick leave due to common mental disorders among young male and female employees, with a specific focus on promoting and hindering factors. A gender perspective was applied to examine potential patterns of similarities and differences in the study participants' experiences.

methodsA qualitative approach with an applied gender perspective was used to capture both young employees' and managers' experiences of the return to work process. The data consisted of interviews with 12 young male and 13 young female employees (aged 20-29) and 23 interviews with managers with experience of supervising at least one young employee during return to work. An inductive, conventional content analysis was conducted.

resultsThe analysis resulted in three main categories and five subcategories describing hindering and promoting factors in young employees' return to work processes. The main and subcategories were (1) "Coordinating, planning, and timing the return to work process" (with subcategories "Lack of coordination and support from key stakeholders", "The importance of a return to work plan and follow-up", and "The timing of the return to work"); (2) "Gaining sufficient support and having personal resources" (with subcategories: "Level and quality of support in the work environment", and "Resources and obstacles on a personal level"); and (3) "Poor match between the young employees' capabilities and the work demands or working conditions".

conclusionThe study participants identified similar factors that promoted and hindered the return to work process. Young employees need more support from employers and various welfare agencies. Managers need to know more about the return to work process and the responsibility of involved stakeholders. No expressed gender differences were identified.

Indexed as

Mental DisordersReturn to WorkSick LeaveAdultFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleQualitative ResearchYoung AdultAnxietyCommon mental disordersDepressionEmployersGender perspectiveReturn to workSickness absenceStressYoung femaleYoung male

Identifiers

PMID40221752
PMCPMC11992836

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.