Workers' compensation for psychological injury: Demographic and work-related correlates

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Haines, Janet | Williams, Christopher L. | Carson, Jacqueline

Affiliations: School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Australia

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr Janet Haines, School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 30, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia. Fax: +61 3 62262883; E-mail: J.Haines@utas.edu.au

Abstract: This study aimed to determine the demographic and work-related factors that contributed to the filing of a workers' compensation claim for psychological injury. Four groups of employees were compared: those who filed a workers' compensation claim, those who sought psychological treatment for occupational stress but did not file a workers' compensation claim, those who experienced elevated stress levels but did not seek help or lodge a claim, and those who experienced stressful events at work but did not develop symptomatology. The results indicated few variables that could adequately explain why some stressed employees opted for a workers' compensation claim. The implications of these results are discussed.

Keywords: Work stress, sex differences, age differences

Journal: Work, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 57-66, 2006