Workplace Mental Health Disclosure, Sustainable Employability and Well-Being at Work: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Military Personnel with Mental Illness

Rebecca Bogaers; Elbert Geuze; Jaap van Weeghel; Fenna Leijten; Dike van de Mheen; Nicolas Rüsch; Andrea Rozema; Evelien Brouwers

doi:10.1007/s10926-022-10083-2

Workplace Mental Health Disclosure, Sustainable Employability and Well-Being at Work: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Military Personnel with Mental Illness

J Occup Rehabil. 2023 Jun;33(2):399-413. doi: 10.1007/s10926-022-10083-2. Epub 2022 Nov 14.

Authors

Rebecca Bogaers^{1

2

3}, Elbert Geuze^{4

5}, Jaap van Weeghel⁶, Fenna Leijten⁷, Dike van de Mheen⁶, Nicolas Rüsch⁸, Andrea Rozema⁶, Evelien Brouwers⁶

Affiliations

¹ Tranzo, Scientific Center for Care and Well-Being, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Warandelaan 2, 5037 AB, Tilburg, The Netherlands. r.i.bogaers@tilburguniversity.edu.
² Brain Research and Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Lundlaan 1, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands. r.i.bogaers@tilburguniversity.edu.
³ Strategic Military Healthcare Department, Ministry of Defence, Herculeslaan 1, 3584 AB, Utrecht, The Netherlands. r.i.bogaers@tilburguniversity.edu.
⁴ Strategic Military Healthcare Department, Ministry of Defence, Herculeslaan 1, 3584 AB, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
⁶ Tranzo, Scientific Center for Care and Well-Being, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Warandelaan 2, 5037 AB, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
⁷ Directorate of Strategy and Knowledge, Directorate-General of Policy, Ministry of Defence, Kalvermarkt 32, 2511 CB, The Hague, The Netherlands.
⁸ Department of Psychiatry II, University of Ulm and BKH, Günzburg, Germany.

Abstract

Purpose Disclosure of mental illness to a supervisor can have positive (e.g. supervisor support) and negative consequences (e.g. stigma). However, research on the association between disclosure and sustainable employability and well-being at work is scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the disclosure decision (yes/no), experiences with the decision (positive/negative) and sustainable employment and well-being at work among military personnel with mental illness (N = 323). Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted. Descriptive and regression (linear and ordinal) analyses were performed. Comparisons were made between those with positive and negative disclosure experiences. Results Disclosure decision (yes/no) was not significantly associated with any of the measures of sustainable employability and well-being at work. However, positive disclosure experiences were significantly associated with higher scores on almost all measures of sustainable employability and well-being at work. Those with negative disclosure experiences reported significantly more shame (M_pos = 2.42, M_neg = 2.78, p < .05) and discrimination (M_pos = 1.70, M_neg = 2.84, p < .001). Those with a positive disclosure experience, reported significantly more supervisor support (M_pos = 3.20, M_neg = 1.94, p < .001). Conclusion We did not find evidence that the disclosure decision itself is related to measures of sustainable employment and well-being at work. In contrast, how participants had experienced their (non-)disclosure decision was significantly related to almost all measures. This emphasizes the importance of the work environments reactions to disclosure and mental illness in the workplace. Future research and interventions should focus on increasing the likelihood of positive disclosure experiences through creating a more inclusive work environment, with more supervisor support and less stigma.

Keywords: Disclosure; Mental health; Military; Stigma; Sustainable employability; Well-being.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cross-Sectional Studies
Disclosure
Humans
Mental Disorders* / psychology
Mental Health
Military Personnel*
Social Stigma
Workplace