Affiliation:
1. Institut für Psychologie, Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie,
Universität Hildesheim, Germany
Abstract
Abstract
Background and purpose In the last decades, Germany has experienced a vast
increase in the number of individuals applying for or receiving disability
benefit. Only a small proportion of them intends to return to work. The present
study aims to identify and describe the percentage of temporary disability
pensioners, who have the intention to return to working life.
Methods The final sample consisted of 496 insured individuals who were
receiving temporary disability pension from the Regional German Pension
Insurance (DRV) at that time. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. The
following self-report instruments were administered: a. Evaluation of Contextual
Factors; b. German Symptom Validation Test (BEVA); c. German Patient Health
Questionnaire (PHQ-9); d. Readiness for Return-to-Work German Scale (RRTW).
Results The results revealed that approximately 6% of participants were at
the stage of “preparation”, 31.9% at the stage of “contemplation”, and more than
half of the participants were at the stage of “pre-contemplation” according to
the RRTW. Comparing the groups of “pre-contemplation” (Group 1) and
“contemplation+preparation” (Group 2+3), no statistically significant
differences were found, except for age.
Conclusions In conclusion, further research is required to identify
possible factors which could predict the stage of RRTW. New interventions are
needed that can raise the motivation for and success in the return to work of
disability pensioners.