Agneta Blomberg

Research Interests

Work Participation and Mental Health

My research focuses on the relationship between mental health and work participation, with particular attention to understanding why some individuals experiencing symptoms of mental health problems continue working while others enter sickness absence.
Within a social epidemiological framework, I have investigated factors associated with sustained work participation in a sample of the Swedish working population. Using survey data linked to national registers, I examined how mental health, work capacity, demographic characteristics, and psychosocial working conditions are associated with sustained work participation The research further explored gender differences in the complex interplay between mental health and sustained work participation.

Selected Research Projects

The Manager's Perspective: A Missing Piece of the Puzzle

This project examined Swedish managers' knowledge, experiences, and strategies in relation to employees with mental health conditions and impaired work capacity. Our findings showed that mental health problems among employees constitute a common challenge for managers, highlighting their important role in recognising employees' support needs and facilitating workplace adjustments that promote sustained work participation. The study also provides valuable insights into managerial perspectives on work capacity in relation to mental health in the workplace.

Return to Work Following Sickness Absence

Returning to work after long-term sickness absence is often a complex process, particularly when absence is related to mental health conditions or musculoskeletal disorders. Through a systematic review of the literature, we synthesised evidence on vocational rehabilitation interventions designed to facilitate return to work. The findings indicated that workplace-based or work-focused rehabilitation programmes were generally more effective in reducing sickness absence and supporting return to work than interventions delivered outside the workplace context. The review was published as part of the Swedish Government Official Report SOU 2020:6 – En begriplig och trygg sjukförsäkring med plats för rehabilitering

Research Areas

• Mental health and work participation
• Mental health related capacity to work
• Vocational rehabilitation and return-to-work processes
• Psychosocial working conditions
• Managerial perspectives on workplace mental health
• Social epidemiology of health and working life