Background. It appears that students with intellectual disability (ID) are more frequently absent from schoolcompared with students without ID. The objective of the current study was to estimate... Show moreBackground. It appears that students with intellectual disability (ID) are more frequently absent from schoolcompared with students without ID. The objective of the current study was to estimate the frequency ofabsence among students with ID and the reasons for absence. Potential reasons included the attendanceproblems referred to as school refusal, where absence is related to emotional distress; truancy, whereabsence is concealed from parents; school exclusion, where absence is instigated by the school; and school withdrawal, where absence is initiated by parents. Methods. Study participants were 629 parents (84.6% mothers) of Australian school students (Mage = 11.18 years; 1.8% Aboriginal and/or TorresStrait Islander) with an ID. Participants completed a questionnaire battery that included the SchoolNon-Attendance ChecKlist via which parents indicated the reason their child was absent for each day orhalf-day absence their child had over the past 20 school days. The absence data presented to parents had been retrieved from school records. Results. Across all students, absence occurred on 7.9% of the past 20 school days. In terms of school attendance problems as defined in existing literature, school withdrawal accounted for 11.1% of absences and school refusal for 5.3% of absences. Students were also absent for other reasons, most commonly illness (32.0%) and appointments (24.2%). Of students with more than one absence (n = 217; 34.5%), about half were absent for more than one reason. Students attending mainstream schools had lower attendance than those attending special schools. Conclusions Students with ID were absent for a range of reasons and often for multiple reasons. There were elevated rates of school withdrawal and school refusal. Understanding the reasons for absenteeism can inform targeted prevention and intervention supports. Show less
Purpose of Review Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that typically affects people of working age. Work-related outcomes are therefore important to study, both from... Show morePurpose of Review Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that typically affects people of working age. Work-related outcomes are therefore important to study, both from an individual but also a societal perspective. Through this review of the literature, we explore the impact of axSpA on key work outcomes including work and productivity loss and predictors for these. Recent Findings Recent evidence confirms that axSpA is associated with substantial consequences on the ability to work. Reassuringly, early treatment and use of biologics have been associated with improved wok outcomes highlighting the importance of prompt diagnosis and management. High disease activity, labour-intensive jobs, poor physical function and impaired spinal mobility are among identified predictors of adverse work outcomes in axSpA. The impact of axSpA on work outcomes is considerable and necessitates optimal intervention, including suppression of disease activity, to enhance people's chances of remaining in work. Show less
Venter, M. de; Elzinga, B.M.; Eede, F. van den; Wouters, K.; Hal, G.F. van; Veltman, D.J.; ... ; Penninx, B.W.J.H. 2020
Background: To examine the association between childhood trauma and work functioning, and to elucidate to what extent this association can be accounted for by depression and/or anxiety.Methods:... Show moreBackground: To examine the association between childhood trauma and work functioning, and to elucidate to what extent this association can be accounted for by depression and/or anxiety.Methods: Data of 1,649 working participants were derived from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA, n = 2,981). Childhood trauma (emotional neglect, psychological, physical, and sexual abuse before age 16) was assessed with a structured interview and work functioning, in terms of absenteeism and presenteeism, with the Health and Labor Questionnaire Short Form (SF-HLQ) and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHODAS-II), respectively. Depressive and/or anxiety disorders were assessed with the Composite Interview Diagnostic Instrument (CIDI). Mediation analyses were conducted.Results: At baseline, 44.8% reported to have experienced childhood trauma. Workers with the highest childhood trauma level showed significantly (p < 0.001) more absenteeism as well as more presenteeism. Mediation analyses revealed that indirect effects between the childhood trauma index and both work indices were significantly mediated by current depressive disorder (p = 0.023 and p < 0.001, respectively) and current comorbid depression-anxiety (p = 0.020 and p < 0.001, respectively), with the latter accounting for the largest effects (P-M = 0.23 and P-M = 0.29, respectively). No significant mediating role in this relationship was found for current anxiety disorder and remitted depressive and/or anxiety disorder.Conclusions: Persons with childhood trauma have significantly reduced work functioning in terms of absenteeism and presenteeism. This seems to be largely accounted for by current depressive disorders and current comorbid depression-anxiety. Show less
Lobatto, D.J.; Steffens, A.N.V.; Najafabadi, A.H.Z.; Andela, C.D.; Pereira, A.M.; Hout, W.B. van den; ... ; Furth, W.R. van 2018
