Self-rated exhaustion disorder and associated health-related factors among municipal employees in rural areas of northern Sweden

Abstract

Objective The aims of this study among municipal employees in rural areas of northern Sweden were to assess the prevalence of self-rated exhaustion disorder (s-ED), describe plausible between-group differences in self-reported health-related factors among employees with or without s-ED, and identify health-related factors associated with s-ED. Methods In a cross-sectional study, data were collected from 1093 municipal employees (76.1% women) in two rural areas using an instrument measuring s-ED and health variables drawn from the Modern Worklife Questionnaire (MWQ), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the National Board of Health and Welfare’s questions about physical activity. Comparisons were made between an s-ED and a non-s-ED group. Health-related factors associated with s-ED were identified through a logistic regression. Results Self-rated exhaustion disorder was reported by 21.5% of the participants. Health-related factors associated with s-ED were cognitive problems, sleep problems, depressive symptoms, high stress, poor self-rated health, and stomach problems. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of participants who met the criteria of physical activity among s-ED and non-s-ED group. Conclusion Findings from this study suggest that s-ED is more common among municipal employees in rural areas than in other working populations in Sweden. Several health-related factors were associated with s-ED. Regular use of a self-rated instrument in evaluating the organizational and social work environment can identify people at risk of developing exhaustion disorder and requiring long-term sick leave.

Does the Number of Reasons for Seeking Care and Self-Rated Health Predict Sick Leave during the Following 12 Months? A Prospective, Longitudinal Study in Swedish Primary Health Care

“…In the present study, although all mental symptoms except perceived stress had significant differences between the groups, these symptoms frequently occur in connection with stress. A cross-sectional study [ 43 ] examining health-related factors associated with self-rated exhaustion disorder among public employees in Sweden found that cognitive problems, sleep problems, depressive symptoms, high stress, and stomach problems were associated with self-rated exhaustion disorder. A possible explanation in the present study regarding the nonsignificant difference between the groups concerning stress may be that some individuals did not relate their physical or mental symptoms with stress when seeking care, as they were unaware of the potential connections.…”

“…It showed eleven factors that predicted sick leave, and one of these was poor self-rated physical health. Poor SRH is also a health-related factor associated with self-rated exhaustion disorder, which, in turn, increases the risk of long-term sick leave [ 43 ]. Results from a large Swedish longitudinal study [ 57 ] displayed in a similar way that self-rated health had significant associations with sick leave and disability pension.…”

“I’m So Tired”: Fatigue as a Persistent Physical Symptom among Working People Experiencing Exhaustion Disorder

“…The criteria for ED are met if respondents experience exhaustion, can identify a stressor, experience at least four related symptoms and are functionally impaired. The s-ED has shown good construct validity [17,22,24,75].…”

“…Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 8657 2 of 11 23% [10,[18][19][20][21][22][23], and ED is associated with reduced work ability and sickness absences [24]. Individuals fulfil the diagnostic criteria for ED if they have experienced physical and mental symptoms of fatigue for at least 2 weeks and if the symptoms can be attributed to an identifiable stressor that has been present for at least 6 months.…”

Müdigkeit, Fatigue und Erschöpfung: Alles das Gleiche oder Ausprägungen eines Kontinuums? – Ein Diskussionsanstoß

“…(2022) [ 1 ] n = 282 OFER ( α = 0,85) Chronische Fatigue (CF) und Erschöpfung werden hier synonym verwendet; CF/Erschöpfung wird oft als ein langwieriger Zustand betrachtet und beinhaltet körperliche, mentale und emotionale Elemente, inklusive anhaltender Müdigkeit, bei der die Genesung nie vollständig eintreten kann Asplund et al. (2020) [ 2 ] n = 1093 s‑ED PSS ( α = 0,74–0,91) Erschöpfung ist durch Energiemangel, kognitive Probleme, Schlafstörungen, depressive Symptome, einen hohen Stresslevel, Magen-Darm-Beschwerden und schlechte selbstberichtete Gesundheit gekennzeichnet Bauer et al. (2020) [ 4 ] n = 24 – Während bei Fatigue die physiologische Leistungsfähigkeit nur mit höherer Anstrengung aufrechterhalten werden kann, zwingt Erschöpfung den Körper, auf weitere physiologische Aktivitäten mit gleicher Intensität zu verzichten Broddadóttir et al.…”