Sickness absence, social relations, and self-esteem: A qualitative
study of the importance of relationships with family, workmates, and friends
among persons initially long-term sickness absent due to back diagnoses
Affiliations: Department of Behavioural Sciences, Linköping
University, Linköping, Sweden | Division of Community Medicine, Department of Medical
and Health Science, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden | Nordic School of Public Health, Göteborg,
Sweden | Division of Insurance Medicine, Department of Clinical
Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Kristina Alexanderson, Division of
Insurance Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet,
SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. Tel.: +46 8524 832 00; Fax: +46 8524 832 05;
E-mail: kristina.alexanderson@ki.se
Abstract: Objective: The aim of the present study was to explore and analyze
accounts of social interactions and relationships with family, workmates, and
friends supplied by persons with experience of sickness absence due to back,
neck, or shoulder diagnoses. The focus was on experiences that seemed to
involve positive and negative self-evaluative aspects, and therefore may be
important to the self-conception and self-esteem of the absentee, and possibly
to return to work. Participants: The interviewees were women and men between 25 to 34
years of age who had been sickness certified due to back, neck, or shoulder
diagnosis. Methods: A descriptive and explorative method was used to analyze
data from five focus-group interviews. Results: The importance of being supported and encouraged by family
members, and the importance of feeling needed at work as well as being part of
a social context were aspects stressed by the respondents. Conclusions: Our results indicate that these interactions and
relations are important to the absentees' self-esteem, and that this should be
taken into account when discussing rehabilitation efforts.
Keywords: Sickness absence, sick leave, social relations, self-esteem, social emotions, return to work
