Prevalence and risk factors for anxiety and depression disorders in workers with work-related musculoskeletal strain or sprain in British Columbia, Canada:a comparison of men and women using administrative health data

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence and risk factors for medically treated anxiety and depression disorders among men and women with musculoskeletal strain or sprain work injury in British Columbia, Canada. METHODS: A retrospective population-based cohort of accepted workers' compensation lost-time claims from 2000 to 2013 was constructed using linked administrative health data. Anxiety and depression disorders were identified using diagnoses from physician, hospital and pharmaceutical records. The 1-year period prevalence was estimated for the year before and the year after injury. Sociodemographic, clinical and work-related risk factors for prevalent and new onset anxiety and depression disorders were examined using multinomial regression. RESULTS: 13.2% of men and 29.8% of women had medically treated anxiety, depression or both in the year before injury. Only a slight increase (~2%) in the prevalence of these disorders was observed in the year after injury. Somatic and mental comorbidities were both strong risk factors for pre-existing and new onset anxiety and depression for both men and women, but these relationships were stronger for men. CONCLUSION: Anxiety and depression disorders including those from prior to injury are common in workers with musculoskeletal strain or sprain and are associated with a complicated clinical profile. Gender-sensitive and sex-sensitive mental healthcare is an important consideration for work disability management

Differences in Modified-Return-to-Work by Immigration Characteristics Among a Cohort of Workers in British Columbia, Canada

Introduction: To investigate differences in modified-return-to work (MRTW) within the first 30 days of a work-related, short-term disability injury by immigration characteristics. This question was part of a program of research investigating differences in work and health experiences among immigrant workers and explanations for longer work disability durations.Methods: Workers’ compensation claims, immigration records and medical registry data were linked to identify a sample of workers in British Columbia, Canada with a short-term disability claim for a work-related back strain, concussion, limb fracture or connective tissue injury occurring between 2009 and 2015. Multivariable logistic regressions, stratified by injury type, investigated the odds of MRTW, defined as at least one day within the first 30 days on claim, associated with immigration characteristics, defined as a Canadian-born worker versus a worker who immigrated via the economic, family member or refugee/other humanitarian classification.Results: Immigrant workers who arrived to Canada as a family member or as a refugee/other immigrant had a reduced odds of MRTW within the first 30 days of work disability for a back strain, concussion and limb fracture, compared to Canadian-born workers. Differences in MRTW were not observed for immigrant workers who arrived to Canada via the economic classification, or for connective tissue injuries.Conclusion: The persistent and consistent finding of reduced MRTW for the same injury for different immigration classifications highlights contexts (work, health, social, language) that disadvantage some immigrants upon arrival to Canada and that persist over time even after entry into the workforce, including barriers to MRTW.</p

Childhood Socioeconomic Status and Depressive Symptom Trajectories in the Transition to Adulthood in the United States and Canada

Purpose: We examined whether young people in the U.S. and Canada exhibit similar depressive symptom trajectories in the transition to adulthood and compared the effect of childhood socioeconomic status on trajectory membership. Methods: We used the American National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 Child/Young Adult (n = 6,315) and the Canadian National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (n = 3,666). Depressive symptoms were measured using five items from the Center for Epidemiological Studies on Depression scale. Latent trajectories of depressive symptoms from ages 16–25 years were identified using growth mixture models. We estimated the effect of childhood family income, parental education, and parental unemployment on trajectory membership using multivariable Poisson regression models with robust variances. Results: We identified four similar trajectories in the two countries: (1) low stable; (2) mid-peak; (3) increasing; and (4) decreasing. Relatively more Americans were in the low-stable trajectory group than Canadians (77.6% vs. 64.9%), and fewer Americans were in the decreasing group (7.1% vs. 19.1%). In the U.S., childhood family income in the bottom two quartiles was related to higher rates of increasing trajectory membership compared with income in the top quartile (incidence rate ratios: 1.59–1.79, p <.05), but not in Canada. In the U.S., parental education at a high school level was associated with higher rates of decreasing trajectory membership compared with higher education (incidence rate ratio = 1.45, confidence interval: 1.10–1.91; p =.01), but not in Canada. Conclusions: Depressive symptoms may take a similar course in the transition to adulthood within these two countries. Country differences may modify the degree to which childhood socioeconomic status determines trajectory membership

Work functioning of Dutch workers with a chronic disease in early, mid and late working life:Cross-sectional findings from 38,470 participants in the Lifelines Cohort Study

Insight into the work functioning of workers with chronic diseases may help to improve their sustainable employability. This study examines the work functioning of workers with cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), rheumatoid arthritis and depression across early, mid, and late working life. This cross-sectional study used data from 38,470 participants of the Dutch Lifelines study. Chronic diseases were classified based on clinical measures, self-reports, and medication. Work functioning was measured with the Work Role Functioning Questionnaire (WRFQ), covering work scheduling and output demands, physical demands, mental and social demands, and flexibility demands. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between chronic diseases and work functioning (continuous) and low work functioning (dichotomous). Depression was associated with lower work functioning across all subscales and working life stages, with the lowest score in the work scheduling and output demands subscale in late working life (B:-9.51;95%CI:-11.4,-7.65). Rheumatoid arthritis was most strongly associated with lower work functioning in the physical demands subscale, with the lowest score in early working life (B:-9.97;95%CI:-19.0,-0.89). Associations between CVD and DM2 and work functioning were absent in early working life but present in mid and late working life. Associations between COPD and work functioning were absent in mid working life but present in late working life. Occupational health professionals could use the WRFQ to identify workers' perceived difficulties in meeting specific work demands, pointing out directions for interventions to mitigate perceived difficulties and thereby improve sustainable employability.</p

Investigating young adults' mental health and early working life trajectories from a life course perspective:the role of transitions

BACKGROUND: Many young adults leave the labour market because of mental health problems or never really enter it, through early moves onto disability benefits. Across many countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, between 30% and 50% of all new disability benefit claims are due to mental health problems; among young adults this moves up to 50%-80%. OUTLINE: We propose a research agenda focused on transitions in building young adults' mental health and early working life trajectories, considering varying views for subgroups of a society. First, we briefly review five transition characteristics, then we elaborate a research agenda with specific research questions. RESEARCH AGENDA: Our research agenda focuses on transitions as processes, in time and place and as sensitive periods, when examining young adults' mental health and early working life trajectories from a life course perspective. As more and more childhood and adolescent cohorts mature and facilitate research on later life labour market, work and health outcomes, transition research can help guide policy and practice interventions. FUTURE CROSS-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH: In view of the many challenges young adults face when entering the changing world of work and labour markets, future research on transitions in young adults related to their mental health and early working life trajectories will provide ample opportunities for collaborative cross-disciplinary research and stimulate debate on this important challenge

Establishing General Working Population Norms for the Cognitive Symptom Checklist-Work

PURPOSE: The Cognitive Symptom Checklist-Work (CSC-W) is a self-report measure to assess cognitive symptoms (i.e., memory and executive function) in working adults with cancer. To date, general working population norm data are lacking worldwide. We established CSC-W norm values in the general working population, and assessed associations of CSC-W scores with work and health-related factors.METHODS: This cross-sectional study consisted of 1,000 Dutch working adults, of whom data was collected through an online respondent panel. The sample was stratified for sex and age, and data were weighted. Summary scores of the CSC-W total scale, and memory and executive function symptoms subscales, were determined (e.g., means, percentiles). Z- and T-scores were calculated, and analysis of (co)variance has been applied.RESULTS: Cognitive symptom scores were relatively stable across age groups, but 18-39-year-old respondents reported lower memory and executive function than respondents in other age groups. Symptom scores of memory function (mean 29.1; SD = 16.7) were higher for all age groups and in both sexes compared to executive function (mean 22.1; SD = 16.8). No sex differences in memory and executive function were observed. Higher symptom scores were associated with performing non-manual work only, manual work only, self-reported long-term illness, and higher levels of depressive symptoms and fatigue.CONCLUSION: The CSC-W norms may enhance the interpretation and facilitate the analysis of self-reported cognitive symptoms in patients with cancer at work. Our findings may support health care professionals in identifying working adults with cancer with cognitive symptoms and in developing personalized treatment.</p

Establishing General Working Population Norms for the Cognitive Symptom Checklist-Work

PURPOSE: The Cognitive Symptom Checklist-Work (CSC-W) is a self-report measure to assess cognitive symptoms (i.e., memory and executive function) in working adults with cancer. To date, general working population norm data are lacking worldwide. We established CSC-W norm values in the general working population, and assessed associations of CSC-W scores with work and health-related factors.METHODS: This cross-sectional study consisted of 1,000 Dutch working adults, of whom data was collected through an online respondent panel. The sample was stratified for sex and age, and data were weighted. Summary scores of the CSC-W total scale, and memory and executive function symptoms subscales, were determined (e.g., means, percentiles). Z- and T-scores were calculated, and analysis of (co)variance has been applied.RESULTS: Cognitive symptom scores were relatively stable across age groups, but 18-39-year-old respondents reported lower memory and executive function than respondents in other age groups. Symptom scores of memory function (mean 29.1; SD = 16.7) were higher for all age groups and in both sexes compared to executive function (mean 22.1; SD = 16.8). No sex differences in memory and executive function were observed. Higher symptom scores were associated with performing non-manual work only, manual work only, self-reported long-term illness, and higher levels of depressive symptoms and fatigue.CONCLUSION: The CSC-W norms may enhance the interpretation and facilitate the analysis of self-reported cognitive symptoms in patients with cancer at work. Our findings may support health care professionals in identifying working adults with cancer with cognitive symptoms and in developing personalized treatment.</p

Measurement of Target and Double-Spin Asymmetries for the ep → eπ+(n) Reaction in the Nucleon Resonance Region at Low Q²

We report measurements of target- and double-spin asymmetries for the exclusive channel →e→p → eπ+(n) in the nucleon resonance region at Jefferson Lab using the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS). These asymmetries were extracted from data obtained using a longitudinally polarized NH3 target and a longitudinally polarized electron beam with energies 1.1, 1.3, 2.0, 2.3, and 3.0 GeV. The new results are consistent with previous CLAS publications but are extended to a low Q2 range from 0.0065 to 0.35(GeV/c)2. The Q2 access was made possible by a custom-built Cherenkov detector that allowed the detection of electrons for scattering angles as low as 6°. These results are compared with the unitary isobar models JANR and MAID, the partial-wave analysis prediction from SAID, and the dynamic model DMT. In many kinematic regions our results, in particular results on the target asymmetry, help to constrain the polarization-dependent components of these models

The future of work in shaping the employment inclusion of young adults with disabilities:a qualitative study

Purpose: The world of work is changing and creating challenges and opportunities for the employment inclusion of young people with disabilities. In this article, the perceptions held by young adults with disabilities regarding participation in the future of work are examined. Design/methodology/approach: One-on-one interviews were conducted with Canadian young adults (ages 18–36 years) living with a disability. Participants were asked about their thoughts regarding the impact of the changing nature of work on their labor market involvement and career aspirations. A thematic analysis was performed to identify and examine emergent salient themes. Findings: In total, 22 young adults were interviewed; over half held secure employment. Career aspirations and work-related decisions were primarily shaped by a participant's health needs. The future of work was seen as a more proximal determinant to employment. Digital technologies were expected to impact working conditions and create barriers and facilitators to employment. Participants who indicated being securely employed held positive expectations regarding the impact of digital technology on their work. Participants working precariously held negative appraisals regarding the impact of digital technologies on employment opportunities. The role of technological and soft skills was critical to participating in a labor market reliant on advanced technology. Participants reported barriers to developing job skills related to their disability and their work arrangements. Originality/value: This research highlights the importance of considering changes in the future of work, especially the digital transformation of the economy, in the design of initiatives which promote the employment inclusion of young adults with disabilities. Despite the significance of the changing nature of work, supporting health needs and encouraging access to secure work arrangements also remain paramount.</p

Energy and System Size Dependence of ϕ Meson Production in Cu + Cu and Au + Au Collisions

We study the beam-energy and system-size dependence of ϕ meson production (using the hadronic decay mode ϕ → K + K − ) by comparing the new results from Cu + Cu collisions and previously reported Au + Au collisions at √sNN = 62.4 and 200 GeV measured in the STAR experiment at RHIC. Data presented in this Letter are from mid-rapidity ( | y | \u3c 0.5 ) for 0.4 \u3c PT \u3c 5 GeV /c . At a given beam energy, the transverse momentum distributions for ϕ mesons are observed to be similar in yield and shape for Cu + Cu and Au + Au colliding systems with similar average numbers of participating nucleons. The ϕ meson yields in nucleus–nucleus collisions, normalized by the average number of participating nucleons, are found to be enhanced relative to those from p + p collisions. The enhancement for ϕ mesons lies between strange hadrons having net strangeness =1 ( K− and Λ ¯ ) and net strangeness =2 (Ξ). The enhancement for ϕ mesons is observed to be higher at √sNN = 200 GeV compared to 62.4 GeV. These observations for the produced ϕ ( ss ¯ ) mesons clearly suggest that, at these collision energies, the source of enhancement of strange hadrons is related to the formation of a dense partonic medium in high energy nucleus–nucleus collisions and cannot be alone due to canonical suppression of their production in smaller systems