Working in dissonance: experiences of work instability in workers with common mental disorders

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Kristina Holmgren¹  Monica Bertilsson¹  Gunnel Hensing¹  Louise Danielsson¹ 

[1] Section for Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 453, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden;

关键词: Depression;    Anxiety;    Work ability;    Grounded theory;    Qualitative research;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-017-4388-3

 received in 2017-01-16, accepted in 2017-05-08,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundCommon mental disorders have a negative impact on work functioning, but less is known about the process when the functioning starts to destabilize. This study explores experiences of work instability in workers with common mental disorders.MethodsA grounded theory study using a theoretical sampling frame, individual in-depth interviews and a constant comparative analysis conducted by a multidisciplinary research team. The sample involved 27 workers with common mental disorders, currently working full or part time, or being on sick leave not more than 6 months. They were women and men of different ages, representing different occupations and illness severity.ResultsA general process of work instability was conceptualized by the core category Working in dissonance: captured in a bubble inside the work stream. The workers described that their ordinary fluency at work was disturbed. They distanced themselves from other people at and outside work, which helped them to regain their flow but simultaneously made them feel isolated. Four categories described sub-processes of the dissonance: Working out of rhythm, Working in discomfort, Working disconnected and Working in a no man’s land.ConclusionsThe experience of work instability in CMDs was conceptualized as “working in dissonance”, suggesting a multifaceted dissonance at work, characterized by a sense of being caught up, as if in a bubble. Focusing on how the worker can re-enter their flow at work when experiencing dissonance is a new approach to explore in occupational and clinical settings.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017