Social factors of sickness absences and ways of coping: a qualitative study of men and women with mental and musculoskeletal diagnoses, Norway

Abstract

The rate of sickness absence is a serious problem in Norway and Scandinavia as a whole. Musculoskeletal problems are a heterogeneous category, covering a spectrum from a broken back and diffuse muscle pains. Mental diagnoses constitute generally about 25–30% of the total number of the long-term sickness absences. It is thus important to document scientifically how and why participation in nature–culture–health (NaCuHeal) activities may prove beneficial for individuals with long-term illnesses. The purpose of our project is to focus on and to discuss how social factors influence sickness absence. There were two aims of this study: (a) to explore and reveal the absentees' own experiences and perceptions of sickness absence in daily life and (b) to explore and reveal the absentees' own perceptions and experiences of various coping strategies while being on sickness absence. Qualitative method through a pragmatic synthesis of elements of ethnography and grounded theory were used. The sample from the county of Oppland, Norway (n = 30), had a mental or a musculoskeletal diagnosis in accordance with the ICPC-2 medical classification system. In this study, men and women understand and interpret their health situation differently; most men in this sample have become ill due to work-related factors, and for women it seems to be the combined impact of domestic responsibilities and job strain, the so-called double exposure. Health-promoting nature and culture activities refuel their energy levels, which in turn help them to sustain their social network. A combination of various social activities seemed also to be beneficial as long as these activities could be personally chosen within their own time and space. This notion highlights the importance of a lay perspective on the illness experience and its connections to coping strategies. Combined with discussion of sickness absence as a phenomenon, we believe that our findings can contribute to a wider understanding of sickness absence, the complexity behind the outbreak of long-term illnesses and ways of coping in everyday life. This research may add important knowledge and insight, hence increase awareness and understanding of NaCuHeal benefits among health personnel and rehabilitation.

Keywords:

• nature–culture–health activities
• sickness absence
• coping
• mental problems
• musculoskeletal problems
• rehabilitation

Acknowledgement

There is no conflict of interest to be declared in this research. This research was funded by the Norwegian Research Council (NFR).