Determinants of Sustainable Work Participation: A Prospective Study

Abstract Background Additional research is needed to enhance our understanding of the factors that promote sustainable work participation (SWP) for individuals with common mental disorders (CMD). The aim was to analyse CMD-related work capacity as a determinant of sustainable work participation (SWP) in a sample of the Swedish working population. Methods Between November 2021 and August 2022, cross-sectional data were collected through an online survey of the Swedish workforce aged 18 and older (n = 10234). Mental well-being was assessed using the WHO-5 Mental Well-being Index, and work capacity was measured with the Capacity to Work Instrument (C2WI). SWP was defined as not receiving sickness benefits based on public registers over a 1-year follow-up. Logistic regression analysis measured associations between mental well-being, work capacity, and SWP by estimating odds ratios (OR), stratified by gender. Results When stratified by gender and age, notable variations in the distribution of mental well-being and work capacity emerged. Women, particularly those aged 18-29, reported reduced mental well-being and strained work capacity relative to older women and men across all age groups. Among women, the OR for SWP by work capacity was 0.94 [95% CI: 0.93-0.94]; among men, it was 0.95 [95% CI: 0.93-0.96]. An interaction effect was found for men, suggesting that the association between work capacity and SWP varies by the level of mental well-being in some cases but not in all. Conclusions The C2WI demonstrated predictive power in a diverse sample of the Swedish working population. A statistically significant association was identified between CMD-related work capacity and SWP. It can be concluded that the preconditions for SWP vary between women and men and across age groups. Key messages • In a diverse sample of the Swedish working population, the C2WI demonstrated predictive power. • During a 1-year follow-up period, CMD-related work capacity and SWP showed a statistical association.