Health and sense of coherence among patients with prolonged work difficulties
Patients reported substantial distress and poor quality of life. Sense of coherence correlated with several health measures, while correlations with sick-leave duration and rehabilitation participation were not statistically significant.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Patients with prolonged work difficulties reported severe anxiety and exhaustion, moderate depression, and very low health-related quality of life. Sense-of-coherence scores were associated with several health measures, including perceived work ability and pain. Correlations with previous sick-leave duration and rehabilitation participation were not statistically significant. This abstract-based snapshot cannot establish cause and effect.
The abstract provides neither the sizes nor directions of the correlations. The cross-sectional design also cannot show whether sense of coherence preceded differences in health or work ability.
What researchers found
Sense-of-coherence score and prior sick-leave duration
Within this cross-sectional patient sample; no treatment comparator applied. The sick-leave observation window was not reported.
What was measured
Researchers combined questionnaire responses with sick-leave records to describe patients struggling with sustained work ability. Sense of coherence was assessed by questionnaire and examined alongside health literacy, symptoms, quality of life, and perceived work ability.
What nonsignificance means
The sick-leave and rehabilitation correlations did not reach statistical significance. That leaves uncertainty about those relationships; it does not demonstrate their absence or establish that sense of coherence matters only for some areas of life.
The original publication
Examining the characteristics of patients with long-term impaired work ability in primary health care - a cross-sectional study.
Löfgren M, Nordeman L, Ariai N et al.
Scand J Prim Health Care · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41866989
- Record checked
AI-assisted research and writing. This explains one selected publication; it is not a complete review of everything known. Our approach.
One more question, understood.
Keep track of the research you’ve explored.