Gender differences in the importance of participation associated with injured workers/persons perceived barriers to returning to work in the context of vocational rehabilitation

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate gender differences in the importance of participation in core domains of life, and the association to perceived hindrances for return to work (RTW) before (T1) and after (T2) vocational rehabilitation. Methods: Two hundred-seventy (T1) and 149 (T2) respondents completed the questionnaire. Gender differences in the importance of participation were calculated using t-tests. A principal component analysis was conducted on 21 questions of hindrances for RTW. A four-component structure was chosen. The family care barrier component was kept as an outcome variable in the logistic regression. Results: There were mean gender differences in importance of participation in family prior to chronic pain and at T1. Importance of work changed from prior to pain to rehabilitation. At T1 children, age and importance of participation in work and family contributed to the model for women. For men importance of participation in leisure contributed to the model. The variables which contributed to the model at T2 for women were age and importance of participation in work and for men; children and importance of participation in leisure. Conclusion: Understanding gender differences in participation, and the association to hindrances for RTW, can enhance the rehabilitation counsellor’s ability to work collaboratively with the clients.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Participation is a value and context driven process which influences the process of vocational rehabilitation.

• Understanding the driving forces for participation in important domains of life can illuminate gender differences in the process and outcome of vocational rehabilitation.

• Understanding gender differences in importance of participation, and the association to perceived hindrances to return to work, facilitates a shared understanding of rehabilitation goals among clients and rehabilitation professionals.

• Important domains of life
• musculoskeletal pain
• social roles

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the participants in this study and the Friskgården Rehabilitation Institution. We also thank the Research Group of Activity and Participation at Sør-Trøndelag University College for their valuable contributions, and Sør-Trøndelag University College for funding.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest.