Social support outside work and return to work among women on long-term sick leave working within human service organizations

AimTo investigate the relationships between return to work and social support outside work among women on long-term sick leave from human service organizations.BackgroundWork is an important part of life and is, in general, considered to be supportive of health and wellbeing. Few studies have thoroughly investigated the importance of aspects of social support outside work for return to work.MethodsA cohort of women on long-term sick leave was followed with questionnaires from 2005 to 2012.ResultsThe availability of social attachment increased the women's work ability, return to work, and vitality significantly more over time. There were positive relationships between return to work and seeking support in terms of emotional support and comfort and expressing unpleasant feelings.ConclusionsImportant resources to increase return to work can be found in factors outside work, such as close social relationships and support seeking. Thus, it is important to take the woman's whole life situation into account and not focus solely on aspects related to the workplace.