Wellbeing after finalisation of a workers’ compensation claim: a cross-sectional survey

Article

Weir, James, Fary, Robyn, Mitchell, Tim, Johnston, Venerina, Wyatt, Mary, Guthrie, Robert, Myers, Bronwyn and Beales, Darren. 2025. "Wellbeing after finalisation of a workers’ compensation claim: a cross-sectional survey." Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 67 (1), pp. e61-e71. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003264
Article Title

Wellbeing after finalisation of a workers’ compensation claim: a cross-sectional survey

ERA Journal ID13663
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsWeir, James, Fary, Robyn, Mitchell, Tim, Johnston, Venerina, Wyatt, Mary, Guthrie, Robert, Myers, Bronwyn and Beales, Darren
Journal TitleJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Journal Citation67 (1), pp. e61-e71
Number of Pages11
Year2025
PublisherLippincott Williams & Wilkins
Place of PublicationUnited States
ISSN1076-2752
1536-5948
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000003264
Web Address (URL)https://journals.lww.com/joem/fulltext/2025/01000/well_being_after_finalization_of_a_workers_.17.aspx
Abstract

Objective
Injured workers can be disadvantaged after a workers' compensation claims ends. This study investigated the association of a range of variables with well-being in injured workers who had finalized a workers' compensation claim >3 months prior.

Methods
On-line, cross-sectional survey (n = 129, 55.81% female). Well-being was measured using the Psychological Wellbeing 18-item (PWB) and the Personal Wellbeing Score (PWS).

Results
Multivariable quantile regression analysis controlling for education level demonstrated associations between the PWB and levels of psychological distress (−1.53; 95% CI, −2.11 to −0.94; P < 0.001) and resilience (6.51; 95% CI, 2.65 to 10.37; P = 0.001), and between the PWS and levels of psychological distress (−0.04; 95% CI, −0.51 to −0.29; P < 0.001) and resilience (1.2; 95% CI 0.47 to 1.93), P = 0.001.

Conclusions
Contemporaneous variables of resilience and psychological distress were stronger correlates with well-being than historic claim-related variables.

Keywordscompensation; well-being; permanent impairment; settlement; claim; work
Contains Sensitive ContentDoes not contain sensitive content
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020420109. Rehabilitation
Public Notes

The accessible file is the accepted version of the paper. Please refer to the URL for the published version.

Byline AffiliationsCurtin University
Pain Options, Australia
School of Health and Medical Sciences
Centre for Health Research
Monash University
South African Medical Research Council, South Africa
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