Optimism and pessimism as predictors of work disability with a diagnosis of depression: a prospective cohort study of onset and recovery
: Kronström Kim, Nabi Hermann, Oksanen Tuula, Salo Paula, Sjösten Noora, Virtanen Marianna, Pentti Jaana, Kivimäki Mika, Vahtera Jussi, Karlsson Hasse
: 2011
: Journal of Affective Disorders
: 1-2
: 130
: 1-2
: 294
: 299
: 6
: 0165-0327
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2010.10.003(external)
Background
Personality characteristics are assumed to affect to the vulnerability to depression and its outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine optimism and pessimism as predictors of depression-related work disability and subsequent return to work.
MethodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study of 38,214 public sector employees with no record of diagnosed depression. Optimism and pessimism were measured using the Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R). Records of long-term (> 90 days) work disability with a diagnosis of depression and subsequent return to work until the end of 2005 were obtained from the national health registers.
ResultsDuring the mean follow-up of 4.0 (SD = 2.3) years, 287 employees encountered work disability with a diagnosis of depression. Of them, 164 (57%) returned to work during the follow-up. One unit increase in the optimism mean score (range 1–4) was associated with a 25% lower risk of work disability due to depression and a 37% higher probability of returning to work after a work disability period when adjusted for age and sex. In the fully-adjusted model hazard ratios per one unit increase in optimism were 0.79 (95% CI 0.66–0.96) for work disability and 1.30 (95% CI 1.01–1.66) for return to work. The pessimism mean score (range 1–4) was only associated with a lower probability of returning to work (fully-adjusted HR per one unit increase 0.66, 95% Cl 0.49–0.88).
ConclusionThe level of optimism was a stronger predictor of work disability with a diagnosis of depression than the level of pessimism, while both optimism and pessimism predicted returning to work.