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Psychological Medicine Psychological Medicine

Article contents

Mental disorders and personality traits as determinants of impaired work functioning

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 January 2008

H. W. C. Michon ,
M. ten Have ,
H. Kroon ,
J. van Weeghel ,
R. de Graaf  and
A. H. Schene
H. W. C. Michon*
Affiliation:
Trimbos Institute (Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction), Utrecht, The Netherlands Altrecht Institute for Mental Health Care, Utrecht, The Netherlands
M. ten Have
Affiliation:
Trimbos Institute (Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction), Utrecht, The Netherlands
H. Kroon
Affiliation:
Trimbos Institute (Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction), Utrecht, The Netherlands
J. van Weeghel
Affiliation:
Trimbos Institute (Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction), Utrecht, The Netherlands
R. de Graaf
Affiliation:
Trimbos Institute (Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction), Utrecht, The Netherlands
A. H. Schene
Affiliation:
Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
*
*Address for correspondence: H. W. C. Michon, Ph.D, Trimbos Institute, PO Box 725, 3500 AS Utrecht, The Netherlands. (Email: hmichon@trimbos.nl)
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Abstract

Background

Both mental disorders and personality characteristics are associated with impaired work functioning, but these determinants have not yet been studied together. The aim of this paper is to examine the impairing effects that mental disorders and personality characteristics (i.e. neuroticism, locus of control and self-esteem) have on work functioning.

Method

Data for a representative sample of 3570 working people were derived from the first two waves of the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS), a prospective cohort study in the Dutch adult population.

Results

Higher neuroticism, more external locus of control and lower self-esteem were each significantly associated with subsequent impairment in work functioning, independently of any effects from mental disorders. Associations between mental disorders and subsequent work impairment disappeared once personality traits were taken into account. Personality traits did not moderate the relationships between mental disorders and work functioning.

Conclusions

Working people with vulnerable personalities have a greater risk of impaired work functioning, independent of the risk from any mental disorder they may have.

Keywords

Determinantslongitudinal cohort (study)mental disorderspersonalitywork functioning
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 38 , Issue 11 , November 2008 , pp. 1627 - 1637
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Cambridge University Press

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