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Flex-ability - A key concept to promote occupational health in everyday life beyond sick leave
Centre for Clinical Research Sörmland, Uppsala University, Sweden;School of Health & Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0037-2504
School of Health & Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5865-2632
University of Borås, Professional Services. University of Borås, Faculty of Caring Science, Work Life and Social Welfare. Dept. of Work Life and Social Welfare, University of Borås, Borås, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8823-4423
Centre for Clinical Research Sörmland, Uppsala University, Sweden;Dept. of Public Health and Caring Science, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0667-7111
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2025 (English)In: Work: A journal of Prevention, Assessment and rehabilitation, ISSN 1051-9815, E-ISSN 1875-9270, Vol. 81, no 1, p. 2370-2379Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background: Sick leave and ill health due to stress are significant concerns today and negatively affect the individual, the organisations, and the community. High demands, multitasking, and inexplicit boundaries between different occupations contribute to an explanation. However, research shows that more qualitative studies are needed to better understand this issue and how to promote health in the working population. Objective: The study aims to explore participants’ experiences of maintaining or regaining occupational health in their everyday life, including paid work, several years after sick leave. Method: Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using inductive content analysis. The analysis resulted in one major theme and three categories describing the current experiences handling their everyday life and work situations. Results: The result showed that returning to work and maintaining occupational health after sick leave due to occupational ill health calls for “flex-ability”. The term describes that individuals need to be open to change and adapt to new challenges at work and in everyday life. Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of health-promotive organisations where the individual factor is more considered. Furthermore, a broader view of health-promotive work in society where work is included in everyday life, instead of divided into and outside of work, is needed.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Sage Publications, 2025. Vol. 81, no 1, p. 2370-2379
Keywords [en]
everyday life, health, health promotion, occupational balance, rehabilitation, stress, work
National Category
Occupational Therapy Occupational Health and Environmental Health Public Health, Global Health and Social Medicine
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hb:diva-33604DOI: 10.1177/10519815251317338ISI: 001464052800001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105005531168OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hb-33604DiVA, id: diva2:1962380
Available from: 2025-05-30 Created: 2025-05-30 Last updated: 2026-03-03Bibliographically approved

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Cregård, Anna

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Karlsson, LouiseErlandsson, Lena-KarinCregård, AnnaNordgren, LenaLydell, Marie
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