Affiliations: Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Faculty of
Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden | Department of Rehabilitation, School of Health
Sciences, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
Note: [] Corresponding author: Mathilda Björk, Department of
Rehabilitation, School of Health Sciences, Box 1026, SE-551 11
Jönköping, Sweden. Tel.: +46 36 101 263; E-mail:
mathilda.bjork@hhj.hj.se
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The aim was to identify differences in self-reported
symptoms among working (W) and non-working (NW) women, and to determine the most
important biopsychosocial variables in differentiating one group from the
other. METHOD: A questionnaire was mailed to 524 members of a local chapter
of the Swedish Rheumatology Association. A total of 362 persons responded
(69%); 96% of which were women. Women older than 64 years and all men were
excluded. The final study group consisted of 95 W, and 227 NW women. The
questionnaire included data on demographics, employment, support, exercise,
daily activities and symptoms. Data were analysed using univariate statistics
and a partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). RESULTS: The results showed that 41% of the W and 42% of the NW
women were/had been employed in service,care or business. The NW women reported
a significantly higher severity of symptoms compared with the W women. The most
important variable when differentiating the W from the NW women was social
support from colleagues and employers. CONCLUSION: To change prevailing attitudes and values towards
persons with a work disability, a process of active intervention involving
staff is needed. Educating employers as to how a disability may influence a
work situation, and the importance of social support, can be improved.
