Mental health problem or workplace problem or something else: what contributes to work perception?

PURPOSE:  Work perception is an important predictor for work ability and, therefore, of interest for rehabilitation. Until now it is unclear to which extent different psychological aspects explain work perception. This study investigates in which way workplace problems on the one hand, and mental health and coping on the other hand, contribute to work perception.

METHODS: A heterogeneous sample of 384 persons in working age with and without mental health problems was recruited. Participants gave self-reports on workplace problems, mental health problems, work-coping, work-anxiety, and work perception.

RESULTS: Persons with mental health problems and workplace problems (M + W) perceive the highest degree of work demands, followed by persons with workplace problems but without mental health problems (NM + W). Work-anxiety appeared as the strongest factor explaining perception of high work demands, whereas general mental health problems did not contribute significantly to variance explanation.

CONCLUSIONS: Persons with specific mental health problems in terms of work-anxiety may be expected to perceive higher work demands. They may be detected when asking for work perception, e.g., within the frame of return-to-work interventions in rehabilitation, or in occupational health settings by mental hazard analysis. Implications for rehabilitation Work perception is an important predictor for work ability. Work-anxiety plays a key role for work perception. Thus, work perception and work anxiety should be explored in the diagnostic phase of rehabilitation treatments. Work-anxiety should be considered not only in rehabilitation diagnostics and interventions in clinical settings, but considered in preventive activities at work: Self-ratings on work-anxiety and work perception (instead of general wellbeing) may be included in assessments for workplace exploration, or mental hazard analysis. They give hints concerning concrete work-related health problems.