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Background: Common mental disorders (CMDs) are currently a major cause of long-term sick leave, with women being the most affected.Objective: Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), we aimed to describe the development and psychometric evaluation of a new questionnaire to measure women's beliefs about return to work (RTW) after long-term sick leave for CMDs.Methods: Data were collected in central Sweden from women on long-term sick leave(2–24 months) for CMDs. The questionnaire was developed by conducting an elicitation study with 20 women and included direct and indirect measures. Subsequently, 282 women participated in a psychometric evaluation and 35 of them in a test-retest procedure. Psychometric properties were evaluated by determining reliability (internal consistency [Cronbach’s alpha] and test-retest stability [intraclasscorrelation coefficient]), construct validity (exploratory factor analysis) and content validity. Results: The development resulted in 60 questionnaire items. Content validity assessment showed that the women overall found it easy to complete the questionnaire. Reliability analyses showed satisfactory results for direct and indirect measures, with a few exceptions. Factor analyses of the indirect scales showed that items were generally in line with the TPB, but that items related to life as a whole/personal life and items related to work separated into two different factors. Conclusions: The questionnaire, called the RTW Beliefs Questionnaire, showed promising results and can among women with CMDs considered useful, especially scales for direct measures. This questionnaire gives the opportunity to identify new potential predictors for RTW.

An increasing number of academic institutions offer their staff the option to work from other places than the conventional office, i.e., telework. Academic teaching and research staff are recognized as some of the most frequent teleworkers, and this seems to affect their well-being, work performance, and recovery in different ways. This study aimed to investigate academics’ experiences and perceptions of telework within the academic context. For this, we interviewed 26 academics from different Swedish universities. Interviews were analyzed with a phenomenographic approach, which showed that telework was perceived as a natural part of academic work and a necessary resource for coping with, and recovering from, high work demands. Telework was mostly self-regulated but the opportunity could be determined by work tasks, professional culture, and management. Telework could facilitate the individual’s work but could contribute to challenges for the workgroup. Formal regulations of telework were considered a threat to academics’ work autonomy and to their possibility to cope with the high work demands. The findings provide insight into academics’ working conditions during teleworking, which may be important for maintaining a sustainable work environment when academic institutions offer telework options.

Common mental disorders are associated with long-term sick leave, especially among women. There is a lack of theory-based research regarding the impact of personal factors on return to work and psychological well-being. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine whether return-to-work beliefs and perceived health were predictors of return to work and psychological well-being among women during or after long-term sick leave for common mental disorders, based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour. This was a prospective cohort study with a 1-year follow-up. At baseline, women (n = 282) had been on full- or part-time sick leave for common mental disorders for 2–24 months. Data were collected in October 2019–January 2020 and October 2020–January 2021 in Sweden. The Social Insurance Agency identified the women at baseline. The Return-To-Work Beliefs Questionnaire, EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale and General Health Questionnaire-12 were used. Multiple logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted. The women were divided into two groups: full-time sick leave or part-time sick leave at baseline. The results showed that stronger return-to-work intention significantly predicted return to work among women on full-time sick leave at baseline. No significant predictors of return to work were found among women on part-time sick leave at baseline. Psychological well-being was predicted by stronger social pressure to return to work (full-time group) and a more positive attitude toward returning to work and better perceived health (part-time group). We concluded that the Theory of Planned Behaviour can be useful for understanding return to work among women on full-time sick leave, and what underlies psychological well-being in both groups. However, return to work and psychological well-being were predicted by different factors, indicating that a multifactorial approach should be used in supporting women to return to work after long-term sick leave for common mental disorder

The aim of this study was to determine if psychophysiological activity, postures and movements differ during telework (i.e., work performed at home) and work performed at the conventional office. We performed twenty-four-hour pulse recordings and accelerometry measurements on 23 academic teaching and research staff during five consecutive workdays, with at least one day of telework. Additionally, we conducted salivary sampling during one day of telework, and one day of office work. Heart rate and heart rate variability indices, postural exposure and cortisol concentration were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance with Workplace and Time (i.e., before, during and after workhours) as within-subject effects. We found a significant interaction effect of Workplace and Time in heart rate variability indices and in the number of transitions between seated and standing postures. This shows more parasympathetic activity among academic teleworkers during telework than office work, which may indicate more relaxation during telework. They had an overall sedentary behavior at both workplaces but switched between sitting and standing more often during telework, which may be beneficial for their health.

This study aimed to examine support and adaptation needed by persons with four different types of disabilities, either at their workplace or in order to enter the labour market. A secondary analysis was conducted, based on the regular labour market survey (AKU), and an additional survey which included questions specifically posed to persons with disabilities. All participants had either partly or very reduced work ability. There was more need for adaptation than for support, independently of work ability and current employment status. Around 60% of respondents with a psychological disability reported a need for adapted work pace and working time, both at their workplace and in order to enter the labour market. Adapted work tasks were an important factor, especially for persons who were not currently working; around half of the non-employed participants said this adaptation could make it possible for them to work, regardless of type of disability.

Self-determination theory proposes that all humans have three intrinsic psychological needs: the needs for Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness. These needs take different forms in different areas of life. The present study examines the psychometric properties of a Swedish version of the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction at Work (BPNS-W) scale. The fit of 10-factor structures previously suggested for related versions of the scale were compared. Cross-sectional data from 1,200 participants were examined in a confirmatory factor analysis framework. Both the original 21-item version and a reduced 12-item version of the BPNS-W were examined. The General Health Questionnaire was used for validation. The results supported a three-factor solution with correlated error variances for the reversed items. Invariance testing of the long and short scales gave best support to the short scale, for which partial scalar invariance was achieved. The external validity of the short scale was supported by a hierarchical regression analysis in which each need made a unique contribution in predicting psychological well-being. In conclusion, the results corroborate a three-factor structure of BPNS-W. Although not perfect the short scale should, it is argued, be preferred over the long version. Directions for the future development of the scale are discussed.

Bakgrund Universitets- och högskoleväsendet har under de senaste årtiondena genomgått stora förändringar. Den teknologiska utvecklingen och ökade konkurrensen nationellt och internationellt har lett till högre krav på effektivitet, produktivitet och tillgänglighet av personal oavsett vart de befinner sig. Arbetssituationen inom universitet- och högskole-väsendet har på detta sätt blivit mer krävande. Universitetslärare är en yrkesgrupp som i allt större utsträckning har möjlighet att arbeta på distans, och nyttjar den möjligheten regelbundet både inom och utanför ordinarie arbetstid. Trots detta är det få studier som undersökt hur undervisande och forskande personal inom högskolesektorn upplever och påverkas av distansarbete. Syfte Att undersöka hur distansarbete praktiseras av, och påverkar universitetslärare, samt att undersöka första linjens chefers upplevelser av att leda en personalgrupp som i varierande omfattning arbetar på distans. Metod Projektet innehåller fyra delstudier. Delstudie I består av en web-baserad enkätunder-sökning av hälsa, stress, återhämtning, balans mellan arbete och privatliv, arbetsmo-tivation, och förekomst av distansarbete bland universitetslärare vid svenska högskolor och universitet. Datainsamlingen pågår och förväntas vara avslutad i slutet av VT-18. I delstudie II kommer universitetslärare att följas under en arbetsvecka med mätningar av rörelsemönster, hjärtfrekvens och stresshormon. Mätningarna kommer att förläggas till en vecka då läraren arbetar minst en dag på ordinarie arbetsplats och minst en dag på annan plats, så att jämförelser av exponering kan göras inom person. Datainsamling för delpro-jekt III genomförs genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med universitetslärare för att undersöka deras upplevelser av att arbeta på, respektive utanför, ordinarie arbetsplats och vad som motiverar dem att arbeta på distans. I delprojekt IV undersöks upplevelser av att leda en personalgrupp som i varierande omfattning arbetar på distans, ge, Rundabordssamtal

BACKGROUND: More knowledge is needed of occupational attainment of persons with disabilities, i.e. the relationship between their educational level and their profession, and factors of importance for this relationship. OBJECTIVE: To compare occupational attainment among persons with and without a disability. METHOD: 3396 informants with disabilities and 19004 non-disabled informants participated (control group) in a survey study by Statistics Sweden. The informants with disabilities were divided into six groups. RESULTS: Occupational attainment did not differ between the disability groups, neither between persons with and without a disability. Follow-up analysis showed that men with disabilities with primary or secondary school had an occupation above their educational level to a significantly larger extent than women with disabilities. This pattern was even clearer in comparison with the control group. Persons without disabilities, with secondary or higher education, were more successful in the labor market than persons with disabilities. Occupational attainment increased with age in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Young women with disabilities who only have primary or secondary education run a higher risk of having a job that is below their educational level than men at the same educational level. This indicates discriminating mechanisms in the society related to gender and ability.

Background: The aims of the present study are to investigate whether there are differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between girls and boys in two different age groups, to study how much of children’s variance in HRQoL can be explained by common psychosomatic health symptoms, and to examine whether the same set of psychosomatic symptoms can explain differences in HRQoL, both between girls and boys and between older and younger school children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted of 253 children, 99 of ages 11-12 years (n=51 girls, n=48 boys) and 154 of ages 15-16 years (n=82 girls, n=72 boys), in Swedish schools. The KIDSCREEN-52 instrument, which covers 10 dimensions of HRQoL and additional questions about psychosomatic health symptoms, were used. Analyses of variance were conducted to investigate differences between the genders and age groups, and in interaction effects on the KIDSCEEN-52 dimensions. Regression analyses were used to investigate the impacts of psychosomatic symptoms on gender and age group differences in HRQoL. Results: Boys rated themselves higher than girls on the KIDSCREEN dimensions: physical and psychological well-being, moods and emotions, self-perception, and autonomy. Main effects of age group were found for physical well-being, psychological well-being, moods and emotions, self-perception, autonomy, and school environment, where younger children rated their HRQoL more highly than those aged 15-16 years. Girls rated their moods and emotions dramatically lower than boys in the older age group, but the ratings of emotional status were more similar between genders at younger ages. Psychosomatic symptoms explained between 27% and 50% of the variance in the children’s HRQoL. Sleeping difficulties were a common problem for both girls and boys. Depression and concentration difficulties were particularly associated with HRQoL among girls whereas stomach aches were associated with HRQoL among boys. Conclusions: Girls and

The aim of this master’s thesis is to study librarians’ views on children and young people as Internet users in Swedish libraries. It examines what types of problems and possibilities the librarians see with children’s and young people’s use of the Internet, how these problems might be solved, and what they think about regulations and filters. Qualitative interviews were conducted with nine librarians, and their statements were analysed with David Buckingham’s After the death of childhood as a theoretical foundation. Buckingham identifies three approaches. The negative view worries about children’s and young people’s wellbeing and claims that they are not able to cope with what they can find on the Internet so their access should be restricted by filtering. The positive view sees children and young people as naturally competent Internet users and wants to grant them unrestricted access. The pedagogical view identifies some problems but focuses on developing children’s and young people’s Internet competence. The results show that the negative view dominates when the librarians discuss potential problems with children’s and young people’s Internet use. The pedagogical view is represented when talking about solutions and desirable ways of working with development, and is the most common view. The positive view is the least common, but occurs in some statements regarding children’s and young people’s abilities. In general, the librarians seldom want to regulate the Internet differently based on age. They see filtering as a practical solution to problems with all users, not a way of protecting children and young people., Uppsatsnivå: D

Competing models of declarative memory were tested with structural equation models to analyze whether a second-order latent variable structure for episodic and semantic memory was invariant across age groups and across noise exposure conditions. Data were taken from three previous experimental noise studies that were performed with the same design, procedure, and dependent measures, and with participants from four age groups (13-14, 18-20, 35-45, and 55-65 years). Two noise conditions, road traffic noise and meaningful irrelevant speech, were compared to a quiet control group. The structural models put to the test were taken from Nyberg et al. (2003), which employed several memory tests that were the same as ours and studied age-groups that partly overlapped with our groups. In addition we also varied noise exposure conditions. Our analyses replicated and supported the second-order semantic-episodic memory models in Nyberg et al. (2003). The latent variable structures were invariant across age groups, with the exception of our youngest group, which by itself showed a less clear latent structure. The obtained structures were also invariant across noise exposure conditions. We also noted that our text memory items, which did not have a counterpart in the study by Nyberg et al. (2003), tend to form a separate latent variable loading on episodic memory.

The objectives in this paper were to analyse noise effects on episodic and semantic memory performance in different age groups, and to see whether age interacted with noise in their effects on memory. Data were taken from three separate previous experiments, that were performed with the same design, procedure and dependent measures with participants from four age groups (13-14, 18-20, 35-45 and 55-65 years). Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (a) meaningful irrelevant speech, (b) road traffic noise, and (c) quiet. The results showed effects of both noise sources on a majority of the dependent measures, both when taken alone and aggregated according to the nature of the material to be memorised. However, the noise effects for episodic memory tasks were stronger than for semantic memory tasks. Further, in the reading comprehension task, cued recall and recognition were more impaired by meaningful irrelevant speech than by road traffic noise. Contrary to predictions, there was no interaction between noise and age group, indicating that the obtained noise effects were not related to the capacity to perform the task. The results from the three experiments taken together throw more light on the relative effects of road traffic noise and meaningful irrelevant speech on memory performance in different age groups., QC 20140203

The main objectives in the present study were to examine meaningful irrelevant speech and road traffic noise effects on episodic and semantic memory, and to evaluate whether gender differences in memory performance interact with noise. A total of 96 subjects, aged 13-14 years (n= 16 boys and 16 girls in each of three groups), were randomly assigned to a silent or two noise conditions. Noise effects found were restricted to impairments from meaningful irrelevant speech on recognition and cued recall of a text in episodic memory and of word comprehension in semantic memory. The obtained noise effect suggests that the meaning of the speech were processed semantically by the pupils, which reduced their ability to comprehend a text that also involved processing of meaning. Meaningful irrelevant speech was also assumed to cause a poorer access to the knowledge base in semantic memory. Girls outperformed boys in episodic and semantic memory materials, but these differences did not interact with noise., QC 20110915

To explore why noise has reliable effects on delayed recall in a certain text-reading task, this episodic memory task was employed with other memory tests in a study of road traffic noise and meaningful but irrelevant speech. Context-dependent memory was tested and self-reports of affect were taken. Participants were 96 high school students. The results showed that both road traffic noise and meaningful irrelevant speech impaired recall of the text. Retrieval in noise from semantic memory was also impaired. Attention was impaired by both noise sources, but attention did not mediate the noise effects on episodic memory. Recognition was not affected by noise. Context-dependent memory was Dot shown. The lack of mediation by attention, and road traffic noise being as harmful as meaningful irrelevant speech, are discussed in relation to where in the input/storing/output sequence noise has its effect and what the distinctive feature of the disturbing noise is.