An exploratory study of the rehabilitation process of people with stress-related disorders

Abstract

The aim was to describe how former clients with stress-related disorders and rehabilitation team members experience the rehabilitation process, and to describe how experiences from the rehabilitation have been integrated into the former clients' everyday lives. A qualitative grounded theory approach was used. The sample consisted of seven team members working at a vocational rehabilitation clinic and eight former clients who were interviewed. The participants were involved in four different rehabilitation programmes, all of which used cognitive approaches. In addition, two of the programmes offered activities in a therapeutic garden. The result highlighted experiences that might have contributed to changes in the former clients' self-image, development of conscious strategies for handling stressful situations, and changes in values attached to everyday occupations. In addition, two different modes of integrating experiences from rehabilitation into the former clients' everyday lives were identified: changing approaches to handling stressful situations in everyday life and changing occupational repertoire in everyday life. Important implications might be that activities which promote relaxation and enjoyment should be included in the rehabilitation of people with stress-related disorders since experiences from these activities seemed to facilitate occupational balance in everyday life.

Changes in experienced value of everyday occupations after nature-based vocational rehabilitation

“…8,11) and, more specifically, therapeutic occupations performed in horticultural contexts or nature-based therapy (16,17). Results indicate that occupations performed in nature are experienced as meaningful and have beneficial effects on health and well-being (18)(19)(20)(21).…”

“…Results indicate that occupations performed in nature are experienced as meaningful and have beneficial effects on health and well-being (18)(19)(20)(21). It has been argued that caring for plants can foster a life beyond oneself (22), and gardening and horticultural occupations in particular have been measured as having positive effects on life satisfaction (23) and bringing about changes, such as rediscovering the importance of the enjoyable experiences of everyday occupations (17,24). It has also been argued that nature and the use of natural environments can facilitate recovery from stress (16,(25)(26)(27)(28).…”

Women’s perceived work environment after stress-related rehabilitation: experiences from the ReDO project

“…This was demonstrated in studies of the situation of working women where mastering life as a whole was found to be important for remaining in working life [30] and for returning to work after a period of sick leave [10]. Other qualitative studies have confirmed that self-mastery, and also self-image [31,32], are highly relevant factors in work rehabilitation. Previous research has also indicated quality of life as an important well-being outcome of work rehabilitation for persons with stress-related disorders [33,34].…”

“…In fact, a related study showed that both anxiety and depression decreased over time, in the ReDO group as well as in the CAU group (57). Clients in rehabilitation have also been shown to experience a change process that includes gaining control over everyday occupations, an altered self-image [31,32], increased self-esteem and control of one's life satiation [58]. The latter study indicted the necessity of a change process for successful return to work.…”

“…The result of the change process in terms of person-related changes might in turn influence the perception of the work environment. Several studies [31,32,[58][59][60] point out the complexity of rehabilitation, emphasizing that several factors influence the outcome. The present study did not aim at identifying causal mechanisms, but merely identified a relationship between improved perception of the work environment and increased return to work, well-being and occupational value.…”