Bjørn Lau

• Lau, Bjørn; Fostervold, Knut Inge & Bjørkelo, Brita (2026). The effort–reward imbalance model in policing: associations with mental health and work functioning among sworn and civilian employees. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. ISSN 0340-0131. 99(7). doi: 10.1007/s00420-026-02231-5. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Abstract Objective The Effort–Reward Imbalance (ERI) model is widely used to explain work-related stress and its health consequences. In policing, ERI research has primarily focused on sworn officers, while civilian employees have received limited attention. The purpose of this study was to examine whether ERI variables are associated with mental health and occupational functioning among police employees, and whether these associations differ between sworn officers and civilian personnel. Methods This cross-sectional study included sworn police officers and civilian employees in the Norwegian police. A random sample of 4000 employees was invited to complete an online survey, and 560 employees participated. Effort, reward, and overcommitment were measured with the 16-item short ERI questionnaire, and the ERI ratio was calculated from the effort and reward scales. Anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, work engagement, and job-related self-efficacy were assessed using separate questionnaires. Group differences were examined using analyses of covariance, and associations between ERI predictors and outcome variables were tested using hierarchical regression analyses with interaction terms for occupational role. Results In the covariate-adjusted analytic sample (N = 558), no significant differences were observed between sworn officers and civilian employees in ERI variables, mental health outcomes, or occupational functioning. Higher ERI ratio was associated with higher anxiety symptoms (β = 0.28) and depressive symptoms (β = 0.33) and with lower work engagement (β = − 0.27) and job-related self-efficacy (β = − 0.16). Overcommitment showed stronger associations with anxiety symptoms (β = 0.50) and depressive symptoms (β = 0.46) and was inversely associated with job-related self-efficacy (β = − 0.28) and work engagement (β = − 0.14). Occupational role did not moderate these associations. Conclusions The findings support the ERI model by demonstrating consistent associations between effort–reward imbalance, overcommitment, mental health, and occupational functioning in policing. Neither the levels of the ERI variables nor their associations with the outcomes differed by occupational role, suggesting that ERI processes operate similarly across occupational categories within a highly regulated welfare-state context.

• Høstmælingen, Andreas Teisner; Nissen-Lie, Helene, Amundsen; Monsen, Jon Trygve; Heinonen, Erkki; Wampold, Bruce E. & Czajkowski, Nikolai Olavi [Vis alle 9 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2025). Use of antidepressant medication is associated with slower response to open-ended psychotherapy for depressed patients. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 16. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1503848. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Objective Depressed patients often experience both symptomatic distress and interpersonal problems. Comorbid personality disorder (PD) has been shown to attenuate the benefits of psychotherapy. Also, antidepressant medication (ADM) may affect the response to psychotherapy. The objective of this study was to investigate changes in depressive symptoms and interpersonal problems for ADM users and non-medicated depressed patients during psychotherapy and follow-up, controlling for comorbid PD. Method Depressive symptoms (SCL-90-R), and interpersonal problems (IIP-64) were assessed on 11 occasions for 166 depressed patients. ADM was used by 50.6% of the sample while 49.4% were unmedicated. Change during treatment and follow-up was assessed with multilevel modeling. We assessed whether ADM and PD predicted differences in symptom development. Results Depressive symptoms significantly reduced at a rate of.05 per month in treatment ( p <.001), corresponding to an effect size of 1.35. Interpersonal problems significantly reduced at a rate of.02 per month during treatment ( p <.001), corresponding to an effect size of.47. There was no significant difference between ADM users and nonmedicated patients at baseline. ADM users had nearly twice as long treatment duration than nonmedicated patients, and ADM users had lower rate of symptom reduction than nonmedicated patients for depressive symptoms and interpersonal problems. There were no differences in rates of change between patients with and without comorbid PD. Conclusion Medicated patients may experience less response to psychotherapy in terms of depressive symptoms and interpersonal problems compared to nonmedicated patients.

• Rabbing, Lillis Marie-Louise Elisabeth; Lau, Bjørn; Fostervold, Knut Inge; Blenkinsopp, John & Bjørkelo, Brita (2023). Enhancing self-reported assessment of working conditions in policing: Revisiting the psychometric properties and applications of the police stress questionnaire. Psychological Reports. ISSN 0033-2941. s. 1–19. doi: 10.1177/00332941231207957. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Objectives Policing is recognized as a highly stressful occupation, encompassing stressors not commonly encountered in other fields. In response, police-specific stress scales have been developed and used when studying police work. Despite changes in the composition of police personnel, most studies examining police working conditions focus on sworn police officers (SPO), excluding employees without police education (EWPE). To advance research and practice on stress in the police, align results, and increase the possibilities for comparisons across studies using police-specific measures (PSMs) we conducted a psychometric evaluation of the two scales in the Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ). We examined whether adding “Not Applicable” to the response scales would reduce vulnerability and make the PSQ more robust. Method Based on a survey with a randomised sample (N = 560) of SPO and EWPE in the Norwegian Police, we tested the original factor structures of the PSQ through Confirmatory Factor Analysis including tests of factor structures from previous studies. Results For all models, the indicators of fit indicated a poor fit with either our whole or stratified sample. The response choice ‘Not Applicable’ provided extended information for SPOs and EWPEs on the PSQ. Conclusions To promote aligning results and enabling comparisons across studies using the PSQ, we suggest treating the PSQ scales as formative indexes, rather than reflective scales. Adding “Not Applicable” to the response scale offers an influential elaboration of the PSQ with beneficial and extended information. Generalised studies of stress in the police should include the entire population working there.

• Rabbing, Lillis; Bjørkelo, Brita; Fostervold, Knut Inge; Strømme, Hilde & Lau, Bjørn (2022). A Scoping review of stress measurements and psychometry in police research. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. ISSN 0882-0783. doi: 10.1007/s11896-022-09498-7. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Despite a growing body of research, there is no systematic body of evidence that establishes the rigour of existing measures of stress among police. The aim of this scoping review was to investigate (1) the diversity of stress measures used in police research and (2) the psychometric properties of such measures and the ways in which they are utilised. The systematic literature search discovered 16,216 records, which were reduced to 442 records of relevance. A total of 20 qualitative and 422 quantitative studies were found to be relevant, including a total of 129 unique measures, of which the majority showed satisfactory reliability (Cronbach’s alpha≥0.80). The identifed measures pertain to four main categories: police-specifc, perceived stress, psychological and physiological outcomes (including mood and afect changes), and assessment batteries. The measures have a general tendency to emphasise illness, and police-specifc stressors pertain mostly to traditional police work. Measures should be chosen based on the aspect of the stress phenomenon that is to be investigated. This study provides detailed recommendations concerning how to use these measures to advance research concerning stress among police.

• Lau, Bjørn (2021). Ledelse ved sykefraværsoppfølging. I Lau, Bjørn & Øie, Merete Glenne (Red.), Klinisk arbeidspsykologi. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215035956. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Rognsvåg, Turid; Lindberg, Maren Falch; Lerdal, Anners; Stubberud, Jan Egil; Furnes, Ove Nord & Holm, Inger [Vis alle 11 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2021). Development of an internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy program for use in combination with exercise therapy and education by patients at increased risk of chronic pain following total knee arthroplasty. BMC Health Services Research. 21(1), s. 1–14. doi: 10.1186/s12913-021-07177-7. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background: Approximately 20% of patients experience chronic pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Due to the growing number of TKA procedures, this will affect an increasing number of people worldwide. Catastrophic thinking, dysfunctional illness perception, poor mental health, anxiety and depression characterize these non-improvers, and indicate that these patients may need individualized treatment using a treatment approach based on the bio-psycho-social health model. The present study developed an internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) program to be combined with exercise therapy and education for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) at increased risk of chronic pain after TKA. Methods: The development process followed the first two phases of the UK Medical Research Council framework for complex interventions. In the development phase, the first prototype of the iCBT program was developed based on literature review, established iCBT programs and multidisciplinary workshops. The feasibility phase consisted of testing the program, interviewing users, condensing the program, and tailoring it to the patient group. A physiotherapist manual was developed and adapted to physiotherapists who will serve as mentors. Results: The development process resulted in an iCBT program consisting of 10 modules with educational texts, videos and exercises related to relevant topics such as goalsetting, stress and pain, lifestyle, automatic thoughts, mindfulness, selective attention, worry and rumination. A physiotherapist manual was developed to guide the physiotherapists in supporting the patients through the program and to optimize adherence to the program. Conclusions: The iCBT program is tailored to patients at risk of chronic pain following TKA, and may be useful as a supplement to surgery and/or exercise therapy. A multicentre RCT will evaluate the iCBT program in combination with an exercise therapy and education program. This novel intervention may be a valuable contribution to the treatment of OA patients at risk of chronic pain after TKA.

• Hagen, Bjørn Ole Ingulfsvann; Landrø, Nils Inge; Hoorelbeke, Kristof; Lau, Bjørn & Stubberud, Jan Egil (2021). Characteristics associated with the discrepancy between subjective and objective executive functioning in depression. Applied neuropsychology: Adult. ISSN 2327-9095. s. 1–11. doi: 10.1080/23279095.2021.1969398. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with both self-reported (subjective) cognitive complaints and deficits in neurocognitive (objective) measures, but the correspondence between subjective and objective measures of cognition is low. This cross-sectional study aimed to (1) assess the association between subjective and objective measures of executive functions (EFs), and (2) explore factors associated with the discrepancy between subjective and objective EFs in MDD. Sixty-two participants with current or previous mild to moderate MDD and subjective EF complaints completed a clinical trial baseline assessment. An objective EF composite score was drawn from six neurocognitive measures, while the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult version was applied as a measure of subjective EF. The association between the subjective and objective composites was evaluated using Spearman’s rank order correlation. A discrepancy score was calculated to quantify the difference between subjective and objective EF. Factors associated with the discrepancy score were analyzed using regression analysis (p < .05). Participants reported extensive EF difficulties, but most performed in the normal range on objective EF measures. A weak correlation was detected between the subjective and objective measures (rs = .015). More rumination (β = −.364) and higher IQ (β = −.420) were associated with reporting more subjective complaints than was evident from objective measures of EF (i.e., underestimation). Subjective and objective EF measures are weakly overlapping in MDD. Findings underscore recommendations to include both subjective and objective measures when assessing EFs in depression. In addition, findings suggest that targeting ruminative processes could help correct underestimation.

• Hersoug, Anne Grete; Wærsted, Morten & Lau, Bjørn (2021). Defensive functioning moderates the effects of nondirective meditation. Frontiers in Psychology. 12. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.629784. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  We have recently found that nondirective meditation facilitates stress reduction. This supplementary study investigated whether defensive functioning would moderate these beneficial effects. We explored the occurrence of defense mechanisms and the impact of defensive functioning on the outcome of companies’ stress management programs regarding worries nervousness, mental distress, sleep problems, and muscle pain. The sample was a population of active, working professionals recruited from Norwegian companies (n = 105). The intervention group obtained significant benefits on all outcome measures, but there were no effects in the control group. We analyzed defensive functioning with the self-report questionnaire, Life Style Index, at four time points. The healthy adults who participated had a low level of defense scores at the outset. There was a significant reduction in the level of defenses in both groups over the study period, 6 months. Defensive functioning significantly moderated the change of the outcome measures from baseline to follow-up in the intervention group, but not in the control group.

• Lindberg, Maren Falch; Aamodt, Arild; Badawy, Mona; Bergvad, Ingvild Buset; Borchgrevink, Petter Chr. & Furnes, Ove Nord [Vis alle 21 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2021). The effectiveness of exercise therapy and education plus cognitive behavioral therapy, alone or in combination with total knee arthroplasty in patients with knee osteoarthritis – study protocol for the MultiKnee trial. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 22:1054, s. 1–14. doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-04924-z. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background One in five patients report chronic pain following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and are considered non-improvers. Psychological interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), combined with exercise therapy and education may contribute to reduced pain an improved function both for patients with OA or after TKA surgery, but the evidence for the effectiveness of such interventions is scarce. This randomized controlled trial with three arms will compare the clinical effectiveness of patient education and exercise therapy combined with internet-delivered CBT (iCBT), evaluated either as a non-surgical treatment choice or in combination with TKA, in comparison to usual treatment with TKA in patients with knee OA who are considered candidates for TKA surgery. Methods The study, conducted in three orthopaedic centers in Norway will include 282 patients between ages 18 and 80, eligible for TKA. Patients will be randomized to receive the exercise therapy + iCBT, either alone or in combination with TKA, or to a control group who will undergo conventional TKA and usual care physiotherapy following surgery. The exercise therapy will include 24 one hour sessions over 12 weeks led by a physiotherapist. The iCBT program will be delivered in ten modules. The physiotherapists will receive theoretical and practical training to advise and mentor the patients during the iCBT program. The primary outcome will be change from baseline to 12 months on the pain sub-scale from the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Secondary outcomes include the remaining 4 sub-scales from the KOOS (symptoms, function in daily living, function in sports and recreation, and knee-related quality of life), EQ-5D-5L, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, the 30-s sit-to-stand test, 40-m walking test and ActiGraph activity measures. A cost-utility analysis will be performed using QALYs derived from the EQ-5D-5L and registry data. Discussion This is the first randomized controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of exercise therapy and iCBT with or without TKA, to optimize outcomes for TKA patients. Findings from this trial will contribute to evidence-based ersonalized treatment recommendations for a large proportion of OA patients who currently lack an effective treatment option. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03771430. Registered: Dec 11, 2018.

• Hagen, Bjørn Ole Ingulfsvann; Lau, Bjørn; Joormann, Jutta; Småstuen, Milada Cvancarova; Landrø, Nils Inge & Stubberud, Jan (2020). Goal management training as a cognitive remediation intervention in depression: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Affective Disorders. ISSN 0165-0327. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.07.015. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Hagen, Bjørn Ole Ingulfsvann; Landrø, Nils Inge; Lau, Bjørn; Koster, Ernst & Stubberud, Jan (2020). Predictors of long-term improvement following cognitive remediation in a sample with elevated depressive symptoms. Frontiers in Psychology. 11:2232, s. 1–11. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02232. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Objective: Cognitive remediation (CR) techniques (interventions to enhance cognitive functioning) have proven moderately effective in improving cognition and daily functioning in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, baseline predictors of treatment response are lacking. The present study aimed to identify factors influencing long-term CR outcomes in a sample with current or previous, mild or moderate MDD and with self-reported cognitive deficits. Methods: Forty-two completers of group-based CR (strategy learning or drill-and-practice), were pooled into one sample. Based on change scores from baseline to 6-month follow-up, participants were categorized as “improvers” or “non-improvers” using reliable change index calculations. Measures included a questionnaire of everyday executive functioning and a neuropsychological test of attention. Finally, improvers and non-improvers were compared in terms of various sociodemographic, psychological, illness-related, and neuropsychological baseline variables. Results: Seventeen participants improved reliably in everyday executive functioning, and fourteen demonstrated a reliable improvement in attention. No statistically significant differences emerged between improvers and non-improvers. Conclusion: No major predictors of CR were identified. Importantly, the current findings are insufficient to guide clinical decision-making. Large-scale studies with a priori hypotheses are needed to make advances in the future.

• Lau, Bjørn (2020). Mental health challenges and work engagement: The results from a cross-sectional study of Norwegian priests. Cogent Psychology. 7(1). doi: 10.1080/23311908.2020.1726094. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Riley, Henriette; Sharashova, Ekaterina; Rugkåsa, Jorun; Nyttingnes, Olav; Christensen, Tore Buer & Austegard, Ann-Torunn Andersen [Vis alle 9 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2019). Out-patient commitment order use in Norway: Incidence and prevalence rates, duration and use of mental health services from the Norwegian Outpatient Commitment Study. BJPsych Open. 5(5), s. 1–7. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2019.60. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background Norway authorised out-patient commitment in 1961, but there is a lack of representative and complete data on the use of out-patient commitment orders. Aims To establish the incidence and prevalence rates on the use of out-patient commitment in Norway, and how these vary across service areas. Further, to study variations in out-patient commitment across service areas, and use of in-patient services before and after implementation of out-patient commitment orders. Finally, to identify determinants for the duration of out-patient commitment orders and time to readmission. Method Retrospective case register study based on medical files of all patients with an out-patient commitment order in 2008–2012 in six catchment areas in Norway, covering one-third of the Norwegian population aged 18 years or more. For a subsample of patients, we recorded use of in-patient care 3 years before and after their first-ever out-patient commitment. Results Annual incidence varied between 20.7 and 28.4, and prevalence between 36.5 and 48.9, per 100 000 population aged 18 years or above. Rates differed significantly between catchment areas. Mean out-patient commitment duration was 727 days (s.d. = 889). Use of in-patient care decreased significantly in the 3 years after out-patient commitment compared with the 3 years before. Use of antipsychotic medication through the whole out-patient commitment period and fewer in-patient episodes in the 3 years before out-patient commitment predicted longer time to readmission. Conclusions Mechanisms behind the pronounced variations in use of out-patient commitment between sites call for further studies. Use of in-patient care was significantly reduced in the 3 years after a first-ever out-patient commitment order was made.

• Kristiansen, Vidar Roald; Handeland, Tore Bergby; Lau, Bjørn; Søderstrøm, Kerstin; Håkansson, UIrika & Øie, Merete Glenne (2019). Trauma in childhood and adolescence and impaired executive functions are associated with uncertain reflective functioning in mothers with substance use disorder. Addictive Behaviors Reports. ISSN 2352-8532. 11. doi: 10.1016/j.abrep.2019.100245. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Aims: Impairments in reflective functioning are known to have adverse effects on the ability to display sensitive parenting as a caregiver. Several factors are associated with impairments in reflective functioning, such as impaired executive functioning and experienced trauma. We investigated how these factors contribute to an impaired reflective functioning style, such as pathological certain or uncertain reflective functioning. Extreme scores on these two subscales reflect two kinds of impairments in reflective functioning. We assessed executive functions, reflective functioning, and trauma in 43 mothers diagnosed with substance use disorders (SUD). Methods: Certain or uncertain reflective functioning were assessed using the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire 8 (RFQ-8). Executive functions and trauma were assessed by administering various questionnaires, interviews and neuropsychological tests. Results: High uncertain reflective functioning was more than six times as common (odds ratio) in mothers reporting high amounts of trauma in childhood and adolescence compared with mothers reporting low amounts of trauma. Impaired executive functions were also significantly associated with high uncertain reflective functioning. Certain reflective functioning did, however, not show any significant associations. Conclusion: When the SUD mothers give information about relational trauma in childhood and adolescence, it might therefore be worth investigating and addressing the potential tendency to have an uncertain reflective functioning style.

• Lau, Bjørn; Shiryaeva, Olga; Ruud, Torleif & Victor, Mattias Erik (2019). What Are They Returning To? Psychosocial Work Environment as a Predictor of Returning to Work Among Employees in Treatment for Common Mental Disorders: A prospective observational pre–post study. PLOS ONE. 14(4). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215354. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Introduction Long-term sick leave and disabilities due to common mental disorders are challenging for society, employers, and individuals. Hence, we wanted to investigate whether psychosocial work environments experienced by employees undergoing treatment for such disorders was associated with return to work. Methods At the start of treatment, 164 patients responded to questionnaires concerning their psychosocial work environment (the Job Demand–Control–Support model and the Effort–Reward Imbalance model), symptoms (The Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation Outcome Measure) and ability to work (Work Ability Index). In addition, the respondents reported whether they were working or on sick leave at the start and end of their courses of treatment. Their therapists provided information about diagnoses. Results Return to work was associated with control of decisions, support from colleagues, esteem, and job promotion opportunities as measured at the start of treatment. In multivariate analyses, control over decisions and job promotion opportunities continued to predict return to work when adjusted for symptoms, current work ability, and expected future work ability. Discussion The working conditions that predicted return to work are considered to facilitate work performance and to be sources of motivation, job satisfaction, and job commitment. Consequently, it is important to examine whether this patient group has a favorable working environment and consider changes in the workplace if the environment is not favorable.

• Hersoug, Anne Grete; Wærsted, Morten & Lau, Bjørn (2019). Acem Meditation in the workplace. A useful tool for stress management. I Eifring, Halvor Bøyesen (Red.), The power of the wandering mind. Nondirective meditation in science and philosophy. Dyade Press. ISSN 9788291405551. s. 118–125. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Engelstad, Katharina Nymo; Rund, Bjørn Rishovd; Lau, Bjørn; Vaskinn, Anja & Torgalsbøen, Anne-Kari (2019). Increased prevalence of psychopathy and childhood trauma in homicide offenders with schizophrenia compared to nonviolent individuals with schizophrenia. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. ISSN 0803-9488. 73(8), s. 501–508. doi: 10.1080/08039488.2019.1656777. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Handeland, Tore Bergby; Kristiansen, Vidar Roald; Lau, Bjørn; Håkansson, UIrika & Øie, Merete Glenne (2019). High degree of uncertain reflective functioning in mothers with substance use disorder. Addictive Behaviors Reports. ISSN 2352-8532. 10. doi: 10.1016/j.abrep.2019.100193. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Aims: Having a substance use disorder (SUD) is associated with impaired reflective functioning (RF) or mentalizing, implying reduced capacity to reflect on internal mental states of the self and others. This has adverse effects on parenting and the child's development. High uncertain RF style prevents an adequate RF due to a concrete, rigid way of mentalizing. High certain RF style prevents adequate RF by making individuals too certain that their view of the world is the true and only one, thereby implying no need to mentalize others' state of mind. We investigated the degree of certain RF and uncertain RF in mothers with SUD with the recently developed screening measure Reflective Functioning Questionnaire-8 (RFQ). Further, we measured the concurrent validity of the RFQ and the more commonly used Parent Development Interview (PDI) measuring a one-dimensional scale of RF. Methods: We used the RFQ-8 to investigate the degree of certain RF (RFQc) and uncertain RF (RFQu) in 43 mothers with SUD. We measured the concurrent validity of the RFQ and the more commonly used PDI. Results: Our sample had considerably higher uncertain RF compared to certain RF. The RFQu was significantly negatively associated with maternal RF measured with the PDI, while the RFQc was not. Conclusion: High degree of uncertain RF in mothers with SUD was associated with an impaired maternal RF (PDI). Administering the RFQ-8 before treatment might be an effective way to screen for uncertain RF deficit, pinpointing what should be the focus in the mentalization-based therapy

• Engelstad, Katharina Nymo; Rund, Bjørn Rishovd; Torgalsbøen, Anne-Kari; Lau, Bjørn; Ueland, Torill & Vaskinn, Anja (2018). Large social cognitive impairments characterize homicide offenders With schizophrenia. Psychiatry Research. ISSN 0165-1781. 272, s. 209–215. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.12.087. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Rugkåsa, Jorun; Nyttingnes, Olav; Simonsen, Tone Breines; Benth, Jurate Saltyte; Lau, Bjørn & Riley, Henriette [Vis alle 10 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2018). The use of outpatient commitment in Norway: Who are the patients and what does it involve? International Journal of Law and Psychiatry. ISSN 0160-2527. 62, s. 7–15. doi: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2018.11.001. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Purpose Despite one of the longest histories of using Outpatient Commitment (OC), little is known about the use in the Norwegian context. Reporting from the Norwegian Outpatient Commitment Study, this article aims to: establish the profile of the OC population in Norway; ascertain the legal justification for the use of OC and what OC involves for patients; investigate possible associations between selected patient and service characteristics and duration of OC, and; explore potential differences based on gender or rurality. Methods A retrospective multi-site study, extracting data from the medical records of all patients on OC in six large regional hospitals in 2008–12, with detailed investigation over 36 months of the subsample of patients on first ever OC-order in 2008–09. We use descriptive statistics to establish the profile of the OC population and the legal justification for and the content of OC, and logistic regression to examine factors associated with duration of OC over 36 months. Results 1414 patients were on OC over the 5 years, and 274 had their first OC in 2008–09. The sample included more men than woman, and three-quarters were diagnosed with schizophrenia. They had long service histories, including involuntary admissions. The legal justification for all OC-orders was the need for treatment, and 18% were additionally justified by dangerousness. The option to initiate OC directly from the community was not used in any of the 274 first ever OC-orders. While 98% of patients were prescribed psychotropic medication, under half had an Involuntary Treatment Order, which under the Norwegian OC regime is required in addition to the OC-order to oblige patients to accept treatment (usually medication). 60% of patients had ≥2 clinical contacts monthly. There were some gender differences in descriptive analyses with men generally being worse off, but no clear pattern in terms of rurality. Patients in the sample had been on OC between one week and 20 years. The median duration of OC over 36 months was 365 days. Three factors contributed to longer duration: the use of the dangerousness criterion; a diagnosis of schizophrenia disorder, and; considerable problems with substance abuse. Conclusion The characteristics of the OC population in Norway are very similar to that reported in other jurisdictions. Medication seems to be the central focus of OC, yet additional Involuntary Treatment Orders are imposed for less than half of patients. While all OC-orders were justified by the need to ensure treatment, risk seems to be a concern for a subgroup of patients who are kept on for longer. How the 2017 amendment to the mental health act, which precludes compulsion for competent patients unless danger is present, will affect OC use, remains to be seen. Further studies should specifically focus on variation in the use of OC, including at the level of individual clinicians.

• Lau, Bjørn; Dye, Anette Høy & Aarseth, Sara (2018). Lederes erfaringer med oppfølging av sykmeldte: Kjennetegn ved enkle versus utfordrende saker. Tidsskrift for Norsk psykologforening (Psykologtidsskriftet). ISSN 0332-6470. 55(7), s. 586–596. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Engelstad, Katharina Nymo; Vaskinn, Anja; Torgalsbøen, Anne-Kari; Mohn, Christine; Lau, Bjørn & Rund, Bjørn Rishovd (2018). Impaired Neuropsychological Profile in Homicide Offenders with Schizophrenia. Comprehensive Psychiatry. ISSN 0010-440X. 85, s. 55–60. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.06.002. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background: Our ability to predict and prevent homicides committed by individuals with schizophrenia is limited. Cognitive impairments are associated with poorer functional outcome in schizophrenia, possibly also homicide. The aim of the current study was to investigate global and specific cognition among homicide offenders with schizophrenia (HOS). Methods: Twenty-six HOS were compared to 28 individuals with schizophrenia and no history of violence (non-HOS), and a group of healthy controls (HC, n = 151). HOS and non-HOS participants were recruited from in- and outpatient units across Norway. An extensive neuropsychological test battery was administered. Results: HOS participants performed significantly weaker than HC in all cognitive domains. Further, statistically significant differences between HOS and non-HOS participants were found for IQ (d = 0.52) and verbal learning (d = 0.82), with larger impairments in the HOS compared to the non-HOS group. Conclusions: Our results indicate that HOS participants show clinically significant impairments in global and specific cognition.

• Hersoug, Anne Grete; Wærsted, Morten & Lau, Bjørn (2018). Nondirective meditation used in stress management. Nordic Psychology. ISSN 1901-2276. doi: 10.1080/19012276.2018.1443278. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The present field study investigated the difference between practicing a nondirective relaxation technique – Acem Meditation – for stress relief and merely learning about stress and stress management in a population of active, working professionals. Methods: A six-months follow-up of an intervention group (N = 73) and a control group (N = 47) recruited from six large Norwegian companies. Results: The findings revealed significant improvements in the intervention group on all outcome variables – comprising mental distress (GHQ-12), worries and nervousness (EPQ-N), sleep problems (BIS) and musculoskeletal pain. In the control group, there were no changes. The differences between the intervention group and control group were significant, regarding EPQ-N, GHQ-12 and musculoskeletal pain. Conclusion: A nondirective meditation technique promoted specific bodily and psychological benefits for active working professionals: less pain and sleep problems, and a personal style less characterized by worries and nervousness. Acem Meditation used as a stress management technique may be a positive supplement to other measures a company puts forward, both to reduce negative health impacts of stress and to improve the capacity to cope with the stressors at work and in daily life. Replications of this study with an RCT design are warranted.

• Strugstad, Benedicte; Lau, Bjørn & Øie, Merete Glenne (2018). Associations between cognition and internalizing problems in young adults with early-onset schizophrenia: A 13-year follow-up study. Psychiatry Research. ISSN 0165-1781. 265, s. 161–166. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.04.033. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The present follow-up study examines the associations between cognition and parent-rated internalizing problems among adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) at baseline (T1) and self-rated internalizing problems 13 years later (T2). Twelve individuals (8 male/4 female) with EOS and 30 healthy controls (16 male/14 female) were included in the study. All were between 12 and 18 years of age at T1. Internalizing problems were measured with the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment Internalizing Scale. Cognition was examined with a neuropsychological test battery measuring auditory attention/working memory, visuomotor processing, cognitive flexibility and verbal memory. Compared to healthy controls, the EOS group had significant cognitive deficits and more internalizing problems both at T1 and T2. There was no correlation between parent-rated internalizing problems at T1 and self-rated internalizing problems at T2 in the EOS group. However, deficits in auditory attention/working memory at T1 were significantly associated with internalizing problems at T2. A focus on improving the treatment of cognitive impairments may be important in preventing the development of internalizing problems in young patients with schizophrenia. The small sample size of the study is a limitation and further research is recommended.

• Victor, Mattias Erik; Lau, Bjørn & Ruud, Torleif (2017). Predictors of return to work among patients in treatment for common mental disorders: a pre-post study. BMC Public Health. 18(27). doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4581-4. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background Effects of return to work (RTW) interventions vary, and more knowledge is needed about the factors that contribute to RTW. This study investigated changes in work participation and mental health, and predictors of RTW among patients being treated for common mental disorders (CMDs). Methods The study was a prospective pre–post study of 164 patients treated at an RTW outpatient clinic for CMDs. Differences between before and after treatment were analysed using paired t tests for continuous variables and marginal homogeneity test for categorical variables. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with RTW. Baseline data (patient characteristics, clinical status, generalized self-efficacy, expectations of future work ability) and treatment variables were used as independent variables in logistic regressions. Further analysis investigated whether improvements in symptoms, work ability, expectations of future work ability and generalized self-efficacy were associated with RTW. Results Number of individuals with full work participation increased, and there were improvements in symptoms, work ability and generalized self-efficacy. In the final model for predicting RTW, baseline work ability and expectancy of future work ability, a history of psychiatric treatment and focus on RTW in the treatment predicted RTW. Improvement in expectations of future work ability at post-treatment did also predict RTW. Conclusions Assessing work ability and expectations of RTW at the beginning of treatment is recommended to identify patients at risk of long-term sick leave. Individuals with a history of psychiatric treatment are also risking long-term work disability. It is essential that treatment focus not only on symptom-relief, but also on improving work ability and expectations of RTW. An RTW-focused approach in therapy is associated with RTW. Trail registration ClinicalTrails.gov ID NCT01181635 . Registered 08/12/2010.

• Lau, Bjørn (2017). Mental health among Norwegian priests: Associations with effort-reward imbalance and overcommitment. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. ISSN 0340-0131. 91(1), s. 81–89. doi: 10.1007/s00420-017-1256-5. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms among Norwegian priests and to examine their associations with effort–reward imbalance (ERI) and overcommitment. Methods: Eight hundred four priests in the Norwegian Church completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Effort–Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (ERI-Q), and the Intrinsic Effort Scale, measuring overcommitment. Results: A significant proportion of the priests (23.4%) had HADS scores indicating a possible anxiety problem. Somewhat fewer had depression problems (9.3%). Both anxiety and depression difficulties were associated with an imbalance between effort given and rewards received at work. Priests characterized by a combination of this imbalance and high scores on overcommitment had more anxiety and depression symptoms. Conclusions: There is a higher occurrence of mental health challenges among priests than among the regular population. This applies in particular to anxiety symptoms measured by the HADS. These findings also indicate that it may be fruitful to explore mental health conditions among priests who report different combinations of effort–reward and overcommitment. © 2017 Springer Verlag

• Victor, Mattias Erik; Lau, Bjørn & Ruud, Torleif (2017). Predictors of Return to Work 6 Months After the End of Treatment in Patients with Common Mental Disorders: A Cohort Study. Journal of occupational rehabilitation. ISSN 1053-0487. s. 1–11. doi: 10.1007/s10926-017-9747-5. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Purpose: Common mental disorders (CMDs) account for a large portion of sickness absence. Even after attending return to work (RTW) interventions, many patients with a CMD remain on sick leave. To identify people at risk of long-term work disability, more needs to be known about factors that predict RTW after treatment. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study that followed 106 former patients at an RTW outpatient clinic for CMDs for 6 months after the end of treatment. Changes in work participation and mental health status between the end of treatment and the 6-month follow-up were analysed. Changes in work participation were used to identify patients with successful RTW. Patient characteristics and end-of-treatment measures of mental health status, work ability, generalized self-efficacy and expectations of future work ability, and changes in clinical outcome measures during treatment were included in logistic regression analyses to identify predictors of RTW at the 6-month follow-up. Results: In the final model, high occupational status and higher work ability at the end of treatment predicted successful RTW at the 6-month follow-up. Further analyses showed that if the expectancy of future work ability improved or remained positive from before to the end of treatment, this was also strongly associated with RTW at the 6-month follow-up. Conclusions: Among patients treated for CMDs, those with a low occupational status and who report lower work ability at the end of treatment are at risk of long-term disability.

• Marchand, Gunn Hege; Lau, Bjørn; Myhre, Kjersti; Røe, Cecilie; Bautz-Holter, Erik & Leivseth, Gunnar (2016). Pain and disability do not influence psychological and social factors at work among sick-listed patients with neck and back pain. WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation. ISSN 1051-9815. 53(3), s. 499–509. doi: 10.3233/WOR-152226. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether living with neck and back pain, disability, and mental disorders influences the perception of psychological and social factors at work among sick-listed patients. OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of the present study was to examine the associations between pain, disability, anxiety, depression, and perceived psychological and social factors at work among sick-listed patients with neck and back pain. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of 380 sick-listed patients with neck and low-back pain who were referred to spine clinics at two Norwegian university hospitals. Ordinal regression was applied, with psychological and social factors at work as the dependent variable. RESULTS: Pain was not associated with psychological and social factors at work. Disability was associated with a minor increase in the perception of demands among women, but not men. Women with high anxiety or depression scores experienced less control over work situations and less positive challenges at work. Men with high depression scores perceived low support. CONCLUSIONS: Sick-listed patients with neck and back pain who had concurrent anxiety or depression reported increased psychological and social challenges at work. To provide suitable treatment in the clinical setting, further attention should be paid to the interaction between anxiety or depression and perceived job strain.

• Røe, Cecilie; Myhre, Kjersti; Marchand, Gunn Hege; Lau, Bjørn; Leivseth, Gunnar & Bautz-Holter, Erik (2016). Measurement Properties of the Nordic Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work: A Rasch Analysis. Journal of Applied Measurement. ISSN 1529-7713. 17(2), s. 227–238. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The main aim of this study was to evaluate the measurement properties of the Nordic Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work (QPS Nordic) and the domains of demand, control and support. The Rasch analysis (RUMM 2030) was based on responses from 226 subjects with back pain who completed the QPS Nordic dimensions of demand, control, and social support (30 items) at one year follow up. The Rasch analysis revealed disordered thresholds in a total of 25 of the 30 items. The domains of demand, control and support fit the Rasch model when analyzed separately. The demand domain was well targeted, whereas patients with current neck and back pain had lower control and higher support than reflected by the questions. Two items revealed DIF by gender, otherwise invariance to age, gender, occupation and sick-leave was documented. The demand, control support domains of QPS Nordic comprised unidimensional constructs with adequate measurement properties.

• Victor, Mattias Erik; Lau, Bjørn & Ruud, Torleif (2016). Patient characteristics in a return to work programme for common mental disorders: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 16(1). doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3431-0. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background Mental health problems are a growing cause of sickness absence. There are programmes in many countries to facilitate return to work (RTW) after sickness absence. In Norway, there has been some controversy about patients on sick-leave being prioritized over other patient groups, such as those with more severe diagnoses. However, it is not clear whether patients in RTW programmes actually do differ from patients in regular services. Methods This study compared 270 patients treated in an RTW outpatient clinic and 86 patients treated in a regular outpatient clinic, both in specialized mental health care, on patient characteristics, history of treatment and mental health status. Analyses of differences between groups were done by ANOVA tests, chi-square test and logistic regression. Results Patients in the RTW clinic had lower scores on the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation Outcome Measure (CORE-OM). There was no difference in health-related quality of life. RTW patients were somewhat older and more likely to live in relationships and have children, and they had higher incomes. Work participation, previous psychiatric hospitalization and present diagnosis contributed uniquely to an explanation of which patients were included in the respective clinics. The RTW clinic seems to reach its intended target group. Almost all of the patients in this group participated in the work arena, and their psychopathologies were clearly dominated by common mental disorders. Most RTW patients’ general practitioners had followed them fairly closely in the year before referral, suggesting previous attempts at treatment in primary care settings. Conclusions Relative to outpatients in a specialized mental health care setting, RTW patients had lower symptoms, but still in the same moderate range of severity. They suffered the same reduction in quality of life. Almost all of the RTW patients were diagnosed with illnesses that can be treated effectively, about half of them had recurring mental health problems and many of them had been treated in primary care settings before referral. These findings indicate that this group has significant health problems that can benefit from treatment in specialized health care settings.

• Myhre, Kjersti; Lau, Bjørn; Marchand, Gunn Hege; Leivseth, Gunnar; Bautz-Holter, Erik & Røe, Cecilie (2016). Demand, Control and Support at Work Among Sick-Listed Patients with Neck or Back Pain: A Prospective Study. Journal of occupational rehabilitation. ISSN 1053-0487. 26(2), s. 183–194. doi: 10.1007/s10926-015-9602-5. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Purpose The main aim of this study was to assess changes in perceived demand, control and support at work of neck and back pain patients over 1 year. We also hypothesised that perceived changes in demand, control and support at work were associated with clinical improvement, reduced fear-avoidance beliefs and successful return to work. Methods Four hundred and five sick-listed patients referred to secondary care with neck or back pain were originally included in an interventional study. Of these, two hundred and twenty-six patients reported perceived psychosocial work factors at both baseline and 1-year follow-up, and they were later included in this prospective study. Changes in demand, control and support dimensions were measured by a total of nine variables. Results At the group level, no significant differences were found among the measured subscales. At the individual level, the regression analyses showed that decreases in fear-avoidance beliefs about work were consistently related to decreases in demand and increases in control, whereas decreases in disability, anxiety and depression were related to increases in support subscales. Conclusions The perception of demand, control and support appear to be stable over 1 year in patients with neck and back pain, despite marked improvement in pain and disability. Disability, anxiety, depression and fear-avoidance beliefs about work were significantly associated with the perception of the work environment, whereas neck and back pain were not.

• Marchand, Gunn Hege; Myhre, Kjersti; Leivseth, Gunnar; Sandvik, Leiv; Lau, Bjørn & Bautz-Holter, Erik [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2015). Change in pain, disability and influence of fear-avoidance in a work-focused intervention on neck and back pain: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 16(1). doi: 10.1186/s12891-015-0553-y. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background: Neck and back pain are among the most common causes of prolonged disability, and development of interventions with effect on pain, disability and return to work is important. Reduction of fear avoidance might be one mechanism behind improvement after interventions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate changes in pain and disability at the 12-month follow-up of patients with neck and back pain treated with a work-focused intervention compared to patients treated with standard interventions, and the influence of improvement fear avoidance beliefs during the interventions on pain, disability and return to work at 12-month follow-up. Methods: 413 employed patients with back or neck pain referred to secondary care, and sick-listed between 4 weeks and 12 months, were randomized to a work-focused rehabilitation or control interventions. Follow-up was conducted 4 and 12 months after inclusion. The groups were compared (independent sample t-test) regarding differences in disability scores (Oswestry disability index/neck disability index) and pain (numeric rating scale) from baseline to 12-month follow-up. Changes in fear avoidance beliefs (FABQ) from baseline to 4 month follow-up were calculated, and the association between this change and return to work, pain and disability at 12 months were tested in stepwise multiple logistic regression models. Results: Pain and, disability scores decreased to in both the work-focused and control intervention to 12-month follow-up, and there were no significant differences between the groups. FABQ decreased similarly in both groups to 4 month follow-up. The logistic regression model revealed an association between a reduced FABQ work score at 4 months and return to work within one year (adjusted OR 3.60, 95% CI 1.19 to 10.88). Reduced FABQ physical activity score at 4 months was associated with decreased disability after 12 months (adjusted OR (3.65. 95% CI 1.43 to 9.28). Conclusions: Short work-focused rehabilitation had the same effect on pain and disability as control interventions. Reduction in FABQ-W score after treatment seems to be an important predictor for return to work in both groups.

• Lau, Bjørn; Victor, Mattias Erik & Ruud, Torleif (2015). Sickness absence and presence among employees in treatment for common mental disorders. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. ISSN 1403-4948. doi: 10.1177/1403494815621418. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lau, Bjørn; Edvardsen, Tove Helene & Victor, Mattias Erik (2015). Vanlige psykiske helseproblemer og sykenærvær i arbeidslivet. Tidsskrift for Norsk psykologforening (Psykologtidsskriftet). ISSN 0332-6470. 52(11), s. 972–981. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Reknes, Iselin; Einarsen, Ståle; Knardahl, Stein & Lau, Bjørn (2014). The prospective relationship between role stressors and new cases of self-reported workplace bullying. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. ISSN 0036-5564. 55(1), s. 45–52. doi: 10.1111/sjop.12092. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  In line with the “Work environment hypothesis,” role stressors have been proposed as important antecedents of bullying in the workplace. Only a few longitudinal studies on the relationship between role stressors and bullying exist, however, and earlier studies have largely been cross‐sectional. The aim of the present prospective study was to determine whether role stressors at baseline predict new cases of workplace bullying at follow‐up. A total of 2,835 Norwegian employees participated at both baseline and follow‐up, with an interval of two years between the measurements. The study supports the hypotheses that role ambiguity and role conflict, independently, contribute to subsequent new reports of workplace bullying. However, there was a weak reverse effect: reporting being bullied at work at baseline predicted reporting increased levels of role ambiguity and role conflict at follow‐up. Even though the results may indicate a circular relationship between the variables at hand, the weak reverse relationship seems to have little practical impact compared to the stronger relationship from role stressors to bullying. Hence, the results mainly support the hypotheses stating that role ambiguity and role conflict, independently, predict subsequent exposure to workplace bullying.

• Myhre, Kjersti; Marchand, Gunn Hege; Leivseth, Gunnar; Keller, Anne; Bautz-Holter, Erik & Sandvik, Leiv [Vis alle 8 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2014). The effect of work-focused rehabilitation among patients with neck and back pain: A randomized controlled trial. Pain. ISSN 0304-3959. 39(24), s. 1999–2006. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000000610. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Study Design. Multicenter randomized trial with patients listed as sick for 1 to 12 months due to neck or back pain and referred to secondary care. Objective. To compare the return-to-work (RTW) rate among patients offered work-focused rehabilitation or multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Summary of Background Data. A growing number of studies have focused on the RTW processes associated with patients with back pain. Many studies have combined a workplace focus with multidisciplinary treatments; however, this focus has not been evaluated in Norway among patients with neck and back pain thus far. Methods. A total of 405 patients who were referred to the spine clinics at 2 university hospitals in Norway were randomly assigned into work-focused and control intervention groups. The existing treatments at each hospital were used as the control interventions, which entailed either a comprehensive multidisciplinary intervention or a brief multidisciplinary intervention. The RTW rates and proportions were compared at 12 months.

• Myhre, Kjersti; Røe, Cecilie; Marchand, Gunn Hege; Keller, Anne; Bautz-Holter, Erik & Leivseth, Gunnar [Vis alle 8 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2013). Fear-avoidance beliefs associated with perceived psychological and social factors at work among patients with neck and back pain: a cross-sectional multicentre study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 14. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-14-329. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background: Neck and back pain are common and often account for absenteeism at work. Factors at work as well as fear–avoidance beliefs may influence sick-leave in these patients. The aims of this study were to assess: (1) how sick-listed patients in specialised care perceive demand, control, support, effort, reward, and overcommitment at work compared to a general reference group of workers; (2) if women and men report demand, control, support, effort, reward, and overcommitment differently; and (3) the association between psychological and social factors at work and fear–avoidance beliefs about work. Methods: A cross-sectional multicentre study was carried out in 373 patients on sick leave due to neck and back pain. Psychosocial work factors were measured by demand, control, and support, (Nordic Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work), and effort, reward and overcommitment (Effort Reward Imbalance Questionnaire). Fear avoidance beliefs about work were measured by the Fear–Avoidance Belief Questionnaire Work subscale (FABQ-W). Results: Although the patients differed significantly from a reference working group regarding several subscales of demand, control, support, effort, reward, and overcommitment, the magnitude of these differences were small. The study population also reported significantly higher scores for ‘demand for physical endurance’ than the reference population, and Cohen’s d = 0.55 here indicated a medium degree of difference. Female patients reported significantly higher on support, whereas male patients reported significantly higher demand for physical endurance, quantitative demand, effort, and overcommitment. Demand for physical endurance, job control, job support, high reward, and overcommitment were significantly associated with FABQ-W. Conclusions: Perceived psychological and social factors at work were strongly associated with fear–avoidance beliefs about work in sick-listed neck and back patients. The demand for physical endurance, control, support, high reward, as well as overcommittment at work outweighed pain and added to the burden of emotional distress and disability regarding fear–avoidance beliefs.

• Ljoså, Cathrine Haugene; Tyssen, Reidar & Lau, Bjørn (2013). Perceived Mastery of Work among Shift Workers in the Norwegian Offshore Petroleum Industry. Industrial Health. ISSN 0019-8366. 51(2), s. 145–153. doi: 10.2486/indhealth.2012-0086. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  This study investigated associations between individual and work-related factors and perceived mastery of work among offshore shift workers. 2,406 employees of a Norwegian petroleum company were invited to participate. A web-based survey was used and 1336 completed questionnaires were returned (56%). Mastery of work was assessed using QPS Nordic Mastery Scale and the results were compared with a sample from the QPS Nordic study. Individual factors adjusted for were age, gender, marital status and personality. The following work-related factors were included: demands, control, support, night work and shift work home interference. Female offshore shift workers reported higher levels of perceived mastery of work compared with women in the comparison sample. The following variables were independently associated with perceived mastery of work: female gender (β=0.10, p=0.008), decisional demands (β=0.13, p<0.001), control (β=0.05, p=0.009), social support (β=0.07, p<0.001), shift-work locus of control (β=0.04, p=0.005) and neuroticism (β=–0.29, p<0.001). Post hoc analyses showed no sex differences in perceived mastery in two separate work positions on the platforms. Work-related variables and personality explained 55% and 45% respectively of the total variance (R2=0.22) explained by the final model. Female petroleum offshore workers reported somewhat higher levels of mastery of work than their male colleagues, however, this may be due to different work positions. Work-related factors accounted for about half of the explained variance and decisional demands, control and support remained statistically significant after controlling for personality.

• Lau, Bjørn (2011). Arbeid. I Næss, Siri; Eriksen, John & Moum, Torbjørn (Red.), Livskvalitet. Forskning om det gode liv. Fagbokforlaget. ISSN 9788245012101. s. 214–225. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Ljoså, Cathrine Haugene; Tyssen, Reidar & Lau, Bjørn (2011). Mental distress among shift workers in Norwegian offshore petroleum industry - relative influence of individual and psychosocial work factors. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. ISSN 0355-3140. 37(6), s. 551–555. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.3191. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Objective This study aimed to investigate the association between individual and psychosocial work factors and mental distress among offshore shift workers in the Norwegian petroleum industry. Methods All 2406 employees of a large Norwegian oil and gas company, who worked offshore during a two-week period in August 2006, were invited to participate in the web-based survey. Completed questionnaires were received from 1336 employees (56% response rate). The outcome variable was mental distress, assessed with a shortened version of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-5). The following individual factors were adjusted for: age, gender, marital status, and shift work locus of control. Psychosocial work factors included: night work, demands, control and support, and shift work–home interference. Results The level of mental distress was higher among men than women. In the adjusted regression model, the following were associated with mental distress: (i) high scores on quantitative demands, (ii) low level of support, and (iii) high level of shift work–home interference. Psychosocial work factors explained 76% of the total explained variance (adjusted R²=0.21) in the final adjusted model. Conclusions Psychosocial work factors, such as quantitative demands, support, and shift work–home interference were independently associated with mental distress. Shift schedules were only univariately associated with mental distress.

• Hauge, Lars Johan; Einarsen, Ståle; Knardahl, Stein; Lau, Bjørn; Notelaers, Guy & Skogstad, Anders (2011). Leadership and role stressors as departmental level predictors of workplace bullying. International Journal of Stress Management. ISSN 1072-5245. 18(4), s. 305–323. doi: 10.1037/a0025396. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Environmental conditions have long been assumed to create climates that can encourage workplace bullying. Although several studies have supported this assumption, the vast majority have applied the individual as the unit of both measurement and analysis. We argue, however, that the appropriate level of inference regarding environmental conditions is the work-group. In a large sample of some 10,000 employees distributed across 685 departments, we tested the hypothesis that leadership practices and the presence of role stressors will predict the incidence of bullying within departments. The results showed leadership practices and role conflict to predict bullying at the departmental level, while role ambiguity did not when taking into account the effects of the other predictors. The robustness of the findings was demonstrated after excluding responses of targets of bullying, still showing leadership practices and role conflict as potent predictors of bullying, supporting the assumption that bullying will be prevalent within unfavorable working environments.

• Berthelsen, Mona; Skogstad, Anders; Lau, Bjørn & Einarsen, Ståle (2011). Do they stay or do they go? A longitudinal study of intentions to leave and exclusion from working life among targets of workplace bullying. International journal of manpower. ISSN 0143-7720. 32(2), s. 178–193. doi: 10.1108/01437721111130198. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Purpose: This study aims to explore relationships between exposure to bullying at work and intention to leave the organisation, actual leaving the workplace, and exclusion from working life through sick leave or rehabilitation or disability pension. Design/methodology/approach: A prospective design with two surveys of a national representative sample of the Norwegian work force was used (n=1,775). The response rate at the first data collection in 2005 was 56.4 per cent, and 70 per cent at the second data collection in 2007. Bullying was measured using two measurement methods: self‐labelled victims of bullying and exposure to bullying behaviour, respectively. Findings: This study shows partial support for Leymann's assumption that bullying at work will lead to exclusion from working life. Logistic regressions showed that victims of bullying considered leaving their work more often than did individuals who were not bullied, on both measurement times. The results also showed that victims have changed employer more often than non‐victims. However, most victims are still working full time or part time two years later. Practical implications: Prevention of workplace bullying must be handled through procedures on an organisational level. Rehabilitation programs and reintegration must be offered for employees unable to stay in their job. Counselling should be available for those who experience bullying or consider leaving their job.

• Sterud, Tom; Hem, Erlend; Lau, Bjørn & Ekeberg, Øivind (2011). A comparison of general and ambulance specific stressors. predictors of job satisfaction and health problems in a nationwide one-year follow up study of Norwegian ambulance personnel. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology. 6(1). doi: 10.1186/1745-6673-6-10. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Objectives To address the relative importance of general job-related stressors, ambulance specific stressors and individual characteristics in relation to job satisfaction and health complaints (emotional exhaustion, psychological distress and musculoskeletal pain) among ambulance personnel. Materials and methods A nationwide prospective questionnaire survey of ambulance personnel in operational duty at two time points (n = 1180 at baseline, T1 and n = 298 at one-year follow up, T2). The questionnaires included the Maslach Burnout Inventory, The Job Satisfaction Scale, Hopkins Symptom Checklist (SCL-10), Job Stress Survey, the Norwegian Ambulance Stress Survey and the Basic Character Inventory. Results Overall, 42 out of the possible 56 correlations between job stressors at T1 and job satisfaction and health complaints at T2 were statistically significant. Lower job satisfaction at T2 was predicted by frequency of lack of leader support and severity of challenging job tasks. Emotional exhaustion at T2 was predicted by neuroticism, frequency of lack of support from leader, time pressure, and physical demands. Adjusted for T1 levels, emotional exhaustion was predicted by neuroticism (beta = 0.15, p < .05) and time pressure (beta = 0.14, p < 0.01). Psychological distress at T2 was predicted by neuroticism and lack of co-worker support. Adjusted for T1 levels, psychological distress was predicted by neuroticism (beta = 0.12, p < .05). Musculoskeletal pain at T2 was predicted by, higher age, neuroticism, lack of co-worker support and severity of physical demands. Adjusted for T1 levels, musculoskeletal pain was predicted neuroticism, and severity of physical demands (beta = 0.12, p < .05). Conclusions Low job satisfaction at T2 was predicted by general work-related stressors, whereas health complaints at T2 were predicted by both general work-related stressors and ambulance specific stressors. The personality variable neuroticism predicted increased complaints across all health outcomes.

• Lau, Bjørn; Finne, Live Bakke & Berthelsen, Mona (2011). Deltakelse i arbeidslivet : helsefremmende eller en risiko for utvikling av dårlig mental helse? Tidsskrift for Norsk psykologforening (Psykologtidsskriftet). ISSN 0332-6470. 48(8), s. 745–750. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The research literature on the involuntary unemployed indicates that work has a number of beneficial effects on mental health. Nonetheless, certain psychosocial factors seem to increase the risk for employees to develop poor mental health, particularly anxiety and depressive symptoms: High job demands and low degree of influence and social support, or low degree of appreciation, career opportunities and job security are considered as risk factors in this respect. In addition, there is still a need to identify work environment factors that prevent people with poor mental health from falling into long-term sickness and disability pension. So far, to our knowledge, only one study has been done in this field. It indicated that good leadership serves as protection against long-term sick leave among employees with moderate depression symptoms.

• Finne, Live Bakke; Knardahl, Stein & Lau, Bjørn (2011). Workplace bullying and mental distress - a prospective study of Norwegian employees. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. ISSN 0355-3140. 37(4), s. 276–287. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.3156. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Objectives: Using a prospective design, the objective of this study was to determine the relationship between workplace bullying and mental distress. Methods: Altogether, 1971 Norwegian employees, recruited from 20 organizations, answered questions regarding workplace bullying and mental distress at both baseline and follow-up. Baseline data were gathered between 2004–2006, and follow-up data were gathered between 2006–2009. The time-lag between baseline and follow-up was approximately two years for all the respondents in all the organizations. The factors measured in the study were individual characteristics, mental distress measured with the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-10), self-reported workplace bullying measured with a single item from the General Nordic Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work (QPSNordic) and job demands and job control assessed by QPSNordic. Results: A multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for mental distress, sex, age, job demands and job control at baseline [β=0.05, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.03–0.17] and a repeated measures ANOVA adjusted for sex and age [F(3,1965)=38.37; partial η2=0.06] showed that workplace bullying predicted mental distress. Furthermore, a multiple binary logistic regression analysis adjusted for bullying, sex, age, job demands and job control at baseline [odds ratio (OR) 2.30, 95% CI 1.43–3.69] showed that mental distress was a predictor of bullying. Conclusions We found support for the notion that self-reported workplace bullying is a predictor of mental distress two years later. Bullying had an independent effect on mental distress after adjusting for job demands and job control. Mental distress was also found to be a predictor of bullying, indicating that the reverse relationship is also important.

• Ljoså, Cathrine Haugene & Lau, Bjørn (2009). Shiftwork in the Norwegian petroleum industry: overcoming difficulties with family and social life – a cross sectional study. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology. 4. doi: 10.1186/1745-6673-4-22. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background: Continuous shift schedules are required in the petroleum industry because of its dependency on uninterrupted production. Although shiftwork affects health, less is known about its effects on social and domestic life. Methods: Consequently, we studied these relationships in a sample of 1697 (response rate 55.9%) petroleum workers who worked onshore and offshore for a Norwegian oil and gas company. We also examined the roles of coping strategies and locus of control for handling self-reported problems with social and domestic life. A questionnaire containing scales from the Standard Shiftwork Index and Shiftwork Locus of Control was answered electronically. Results: In general, only a few participants reported that their shift schedule affected their social and domestic/family life, and several participants had enough time to spend by themselves and with their partner, close family, friends, and children. Despite this general positive trend, differences were found for shift type and individual factors such as locus of control and coping strategies. Internal locus of control was associated positively with all the dependent variables. However, engaging problem-focused coping strategies were associated only slightly with the dependent variables, while disengaging emotion-focused coping strategies were negatively associated with the dependent variables. Conclusion: Since most participants reported few problems with social and domestic/family life, the availability of more leisure time may be a positive feature of shiftwork in the Norwegian petroleum industry. Locus of control and the use of coping strategies were important for shiftworkers' social and domestic/family life.

• Magerøy, Nils; Lau, Bjørn; Riise, Trond & Moen, Bente Elisabeth (2009). Association of psychosocial factors and bullying at individual and department levels among naval military personnel. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. ISSN 0022-3999. 66(4), s. 343–351. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2008.10.009. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Objective: We studied the associations between bullying at work and psychosocial factors both at the individual and at the department levels. Methods: The data were collected in a cross-sectional study from a questionnaire sent by mail in 2002 to all military personnel in the Royal Norwegian Navy as part of a general work and health study. Self-experienced and observed bullying as well as scores for psychosocial scales using the General Nordic Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work were calculated both for the individuals (n=1604) and as a mean for each Navy department (n=97). Results: Low scores on the fair leadership, innovative climate, and inequality scales were associated with high occurrence of bullying at the individual level in a backward stepwise multivariate logistic regression, which means that lack of fair leadership and innovative climate and unequal treatment were associated with high occurrence of bullying. At the department level, the three scales were similarly significantly associated with percentage observed bullying when analyzed separately. A low score on the fair leadership scale and lower departmental mean age were associated with high percentage observed bullying in a stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. Repeating the analyses excluding those being bullied did not change the estimates markedly. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the work environment as perceived by the individual and at the department level is related to the occurrence of bullying.

• Lau, Bjørn (2008). Effort-reward imbalance and overcommitment in employees in a Norwegian municipality: a cross sectional study. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology. 3. doi: 10.1186/1745-6673-3-9. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background The aim of this study was to validate a Norwegian version of the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (ERI-Q). Methods One thousand eight-hundred and three employees in a medium-sized Norwegian municipality replied to the ERI-Q, and health-related variables such as self-reported general health, psychological distress, musculoskeletal complaints, and work-related burnout were examined. Results Sound psychometric properties were found for this Norwegian version of the ERI-Q. When the two dimensions of ERI and overcommitment were analyzed in four types of employees, the results showed that employees characterized by a combination of high values on ERI and overcommitment had more unfavorable health scores than others. Employees with low effort-reward and overcommitment scores had more favorable health scores. Employees with scores on the overcommitment and the effort-reward scales that are supposed to have opposite effects on health (that is, the combination of low overcommitment with a high effort-reward score and vice versa), had health scores somewhere in between the two other groups. Conclusion Satisfactory psychometric properties were found for most of the latent factors in the ERI-Q. The findings also indicate that it may be fruitful to explore health conditions among employees with different combinations of effort-reward and overcommitment.

• Sterud, Tom; Hem, Erlend; Ekeberg, Øivind & Lau, Bjørn (2008). Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts in a Nationwide Sample of Operational Norwegian Ambulance Personnel. Journal of Occupational Health. ISSN 1341-9145. 50(5), s. 406–414. doi: 10.1539/joh.L8025. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  This is the first paper on suicidal ideation and attempts among ambulance personnel. This study aimed to investigate levels of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among ambulance personnel, and to identify important correlates and the factors to which ambulance personnel attribute their serious suicidal ideation. A comprehensive nationwide questionnaire survey of 1,180 operational ambulance personnel was conducted. Measurements included: Paykel's Suicidal Feelings in the General Population questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale, the Subjective Health Complaints Questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Job Satisfaction Scale, the Basic Character Inventory, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Lifetime prevalence ranged from 28% for feelings that life was not worth living to 10.4% for seriously considered suicide and 3.1% for a suicide attempt. Serious suicidal ideation was independently associated with job-related emotional exhaustion (feelings of being overextended and depleted of resources) (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.0) and bullying at work (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.02-2.7), younger age, not married/cohabitant, depression symptoms, low self-esteem and the personality trait reality weakness. In general, suicidal thoughts were hardly attributable to working conditions, since only 1.8% of ambulance personnel attributed suicidal ideation to work problems alone. In conclusion, ambulance personnel reported a moderate level of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Although serious suicidal ideation was rarely attributed to working conditions in general, this study suggests that job-related factors like emotional exhaustion and bullying may be of importance.

• Sterud, Tom; Hem, Erlend; Ekeberg, Øivind & Lau, Bjørn (2008). Health problems and help-seeking in a nationwide sample of operational Norwegian ambulance personnel. BMC Public Health. 8. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-8-3. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background: To estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms, and their association with professional help-seeking, among operational ambulance personnel and a general working population, and to study the symptoms of musculoskeletal pain and disturbed sleep among ambulance personnel. Methods: The results of a comprehensive nationwide questionnaire survey of operational ambulance personnel (n = 1180) were compared with the findings of a population-based Norwegian health study of working people (n = 31,987). The questionnaire included measures of help-seeking, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Subjective Health Complaints Questionnaire, the Karolinska Sleep Questionnaire and the Need for Recovery after Work Scale. Results: Compared with those in the reference population, the mean of level anxiety symptoms in the ambulance sample was lower for men (3.5 vs. 3.9, P <0.001) and women (4.0 vs. 4.4, P <0.05), and the mean level of depression symptoms in ambulance workers was lower for men (2.3 vs. 2.8, P <0.05) but not for women (2.9 vs. 3.1, P = 0.22). A model adjusted for anxiety and depression symptoms indicated that ambulance personnel had lower levels of help-seeking except for seeing a chiropractor (12% vs. 5%, P <0.01). In the ambulance sample, symptoms of musculoskeletal pain were most consistently associated with help-seeking. In the adjusted model, only symptoms of disturbed sleep were associated with help-seeking from a psychologist/psychiatrist (total sample = 2.3%). Help-seeking was more often reported by women but was largely unaffected by age. Conclusion: The assumption that ambulance personnel have more anxiety and depression symptoms than the general working population was not supported. The level of musculoskeletal pain and, accordingly, the level of help-seeking from a chiropractor were higher for ambulance workers. More research should address the physical strains among ambulance personnel.

• Sterud, Tom; Hem, Erlend; Ekeberg, Øivind & Lau, Bjørn (2008). Occupational stressors and its organizational and individual correlates: A nationwide study of Norwegian ambulance personnel. BMC Emergency Medicine. 8. doi: 10.1186/1471-227X-8-16. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background High levels of stress among ambulance personnel have been attributed to the conditions of ambulance work. However, there is little research to support this notion, and it has been questioned whether ambulance work is inherently stressful. We compared the severity and frequency level of organizational and ambulance-specific stressors, and studied their relationship to organizational conditions and individual differences Methods A comprehensive nationwide questionnaire survey of ambulance personnel (n = 1180) in operational duty. The questionnaire included the Job Stress Survey, the Norwegian Ambulance Stress Survey, the Basic Character Inventory, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and questions addressing organizational conditions. Results Serious operational tasks and physical demands were identified as the two most severe stressors. Lack of support from co-workers was the most severe and frequent organizational stressor. Higher frequency of stressors was most strongly associated with size of service districts (beta ranging between .18 and .30, p < .01) and working overtime (beta ranging from .13 to .27, p < .05). Stressor severity was related to lack of support after exposure to critical event (beta ranging from .11 to .24, p < .01) and working overtime. Neuroticism (beta ranging from .09 to .17, p < .01) and low general self-efficacy (beta ranging from -.12 to -.16, p < .001) were equally strongly related to severity of stressors, as were organizational conditions. Conclusion Ambulance-specific stressors were reported as both more severe and more frequently occurring stressors than were organizational stressors. Organizational working conditions were more strongly related to frequency of job stressors than were individual differences. In general, the relationship between occupational stressors and individual differences was weak.

• Gamperiene, Migle; Nygård, Jan Franz; Sandanger, Inger; Lau, Bjørn & Bruusgaard, Dag (2008). Self-reported work ability of Norwegian women in relation to physical and mental health, and to the work environment. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology. 3(8). doi: 10.1186/1745-6673-3-8. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Objectives To examine the self-reported level of work ability among female employees and the relationship between work ability and demographic characteristics, physical health, mental health, and various psychosocial and organizational work environment factors. Methods Participants were 597 female employees with an average age of 43 years from urban and rural areas in Norway. Trained personnel performed a structured interview to measure demographic variables, physical health, and characteristics of the working environment. Mental health was assessed using the 25-item version of the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist (HSCL-25). Work ability was assessed using a question from the Graded Reduced Work Ability Scale. Results Of the 597 female employees, 8.9% reported an extremely or very reduced ability to work. Twenty-four percent reported poor physical health and 21.9% reported mental distress (≥ 1.55 HSCL-25 cut-off). Women, who reported moderately and severely reduced work ability, did not differ a lot. Moderately reduced work ability increased with age and was associated with physical and mental health. Severely reduced work ability was strongly associated only with physical health and with unskilled occupation. Of eight work environment variables, only three yielded significant associations with work ability, and these associations disappeared after adjustment in the multivariate analysis. Conclusion Results indicate that ageing, in addition to poor self-reported physical health and unskilled work, were the strongest factors associated with reduced work ability among female employees. Impact of work environment in general was visible only in univariate analysis.

• Lau, Bjørn & Knardahl, Stein (2008). Perceived job insecurity, job predictability, personality, and health. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. ISSN 1076-2752. 50(2), s. 172–181. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0b013e31815c89a1. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  OBJECTIVE: The present study sought to determine whether job insecurity is associated with personality traits and beliefs. In addition, it was tested whether aspects of personality confounded the relationships between job insecurity and health, or moderated this association. METHODS: At the first data collection, 5163 persons participated, and at the second data collection, 1946 persons of a random sample participated. Data were obtained from Oslo Health Study. RESULTS: The job insecurity aspect concerning confidence in having a good job in 2 years was more strongly related to the health variables, and particularly with mental distress, compared with other aspects of job insecurity. Type-A behavior predicted an increase in upper back pain (beta 0.07), while optimism predicted a change in lower back pain (beta -0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Job insecurity is associated with health; this association is strongest for mental distress and self-reported health, and weaker for back-pain.

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• Lau, Bjørn & Øie, Merete Glenne (2021). Klinisk arbeidspsykologi. Universitetsforlaget. ISBN 9788215035956. 200 s. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv

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• Høstmælingen, Andreas Teisner; Nissen-Lie, Helene, Amundsen; Monsen, Jon Trygve; Heinonen, Erkki; Wampold, Bruce E. & Czajkowski, Nikolai Olavi [Vis alle 8 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). The Potential Impact of Antidepressant Medication on Psychotherapy Outcome for Depressed Patients. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Aim: Many depressed patients are already being treated with antidepressant medication (ADM) when presenting for psychotherapy. However, the potential impact of ADM on psychotherapy processes and outcome remains an unresolved issue. A large body of research indicates a combination of ADM and psychotherapy is superior to either monotherapy, but there are also indications that especially long-term use of ADM may be associated with negative consequences such as tolerance, negative side effects and iatrogenic comorbidity. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in depressive symptoms and interpersonal problems for ADM users and non-medicated depressed patients during psychotherapy and follow-up. Methods: Depressive symptoms (SCL-90-R) were assessed on 11 occasions for 166 depressed patients. ADM was used by 50.6% of the sample while 49.4% were unmedicated. Change during treatment and follow-up was assessed with multilevel modeling. We assessed whether ADM predicted differences in symptom development. Results: Depressive symptoms significantly reduced at a rate of .05 per month in treatment (p <.001), corresponding to an effect size of 1.35. There was no significant difference between ADM users and nonmedicated patients at baseline. ADM users had nearly twice as long treatment duration than nonmedicated patients, and ADM users had lower rate of symptom reduction than nonmedicated patients for depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Our results indicate medicated patients experience less response to psychotherapy than non medicated. Patients on ADM may believe that depression is primarily a biochemical condition and thus have less confidence in the potential for psychotherapy to treat depression. Also, it is possible that patients not using ADM have better access to emotions that need to be accessed and processed in psychotherapy. Iatrogenic comorbidity may thus have contributed to slower improvement for ADM users.

• Rabbing, Lillis Marie-Louise Elisabeth; Lau, Bjørn; Fostervold, Knut Inge; Blenkinsopp, John & Bjørkelo, Brita (2023). Challenging and Demanding Work: A Study into Stress in the Police. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Hagen, Bjørn Ingulfsvann; Landrø, Nils Inge; Hoorelbeke, Kristof; Lau, Bjørn & Stubberud, Jan Egil (2023). Discrepancies between Subjective and Objective Measures of Cognitive Control. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Rabbing, Lillis Marie-Louise Elisabeth; Lau, Bjørn; Fostervold, Knut Inge; Blenkinsopp, John & Bjørkelo, Brita (2023). Modern Policing and the Use of Police-Specific Measurements of Perceived Stress – Do We Get More Knowledge? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Rognsvåg, Turid; Lindberg, Maren Falch; Lerdal, Anners; Furnes, Ove Nord; stubberud, jan & Holm, Inger [Vis alle 11 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2022). Development of an internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy program for use in combination with exercise therapy and education by patients at increased risk of chronic pain following total knee arthroplasty. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita & Lau, Bjørn (2021). Politistudien: Setter fokus på arbeidsvilkår i politiet. Politiforum. ISSN 1500-6921. 112(8), s. 57–57. doi: https:/www.nb.no/items/ceb5e299a1e226f33c2b3844212d1c0c?page=0&searchText=seriestitleid%3A%22oai%3Anb.bibsys.no%3A999803452514702202%22. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lau, Bjørn & Øie, Merete Glenne (2021). Innledningskapittel. I Lau, Bjørn & Øie, Merete Glenne (Red.), Klinisk arbeidspsykologi. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215035956. s. 13–21. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Rabbing, Lillis; Bjørkelo, Brita; Fostervold, Knut Inge; Strømme, Hilde & Lau, Bjørn (2021). Stress in the police: Measurements and psychometric properties. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Hagen, Bjørn Ole Ingulfsvann; Landrø, Nils Inge; Lau, Bjørn & Stubberud, Jan (2020). Normal auditory attention performance in a depression sample with self-reported attentional difficulties. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Rabbing, Lillis; Lau, Bjørn; Bjørkelo, Brita & Fostervold, Knut Inge (2019). Norwegian Police Service Employee Study. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lindberg, Maren Falch; Rognsvåg, Turid; Badawy, Mona; Borchgrevink, Petter Chr.; Furnes, Ove & Gay, Caryl [Vis alle 13 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2019). Optimal behandling av artrosepasienter - en feasibilitystudie (MultiKnee trial). Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lau, Bjørn & Stubberud, Jan (2019). Kognitivt adferdsterapi knyttet til smerte og bruk av e-CBT program - for fysioterapeuter i MultiKnee studien. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Hagen, Bjørn Ole Ingulfsvann; Lau, Bjørn; Landrø, Nils Inge; Joormann, Jutta & Stubberud, Jan (2019). Goal Management Training of executive functions in depression: Preliminary results from a randomized controlled trial. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Jahren, Henrik Haaland & Lau, Bjørn (2018). CBT-kurs for fysioterapeuter 2018. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Rognsvåg, Turid; Lindberg, Maren Falch; Borchgrevink, Petter Chr.; Furnes, Ove; Gay, Caryl & Holm, Inger [Vis alle 13 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2018). Multi-Knee Trial. En feasibilty-studie av en intervensjon for artrosepasienter med økt risiko for langvarige smerter etter operasjon med kneprotese. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lau, Bjørn & Øie, Merete Glenne (2017). Stress kan svekke hjernen. Dagens næringsliv. ISSN 0803-9372. s. 31–31. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lau, Bjørn (2013). Sier nei til en måned fri. [Internet]. Politiets fellesforbund. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lau, Bjørn (2013). Politistudenter sier nei til en måned fri. [Internet]. NRK Nordland. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lau, Bjørn (2013). Elendige norske sjefer - Dette kan du gjøre selv. [Journal]. Dagbladet . Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lau, Bjørn (2013). Derfor har nordmenn det best på jobb. [Journal]. Dagbladet. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lau, Bjørn (2013). Flytter arbeidsdagen og kontoret til kaffebaren. [Internet]. dt.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lau, Bjørn (2013). Disse er MEST og MINST syke Sykefravær. [Journal]. DAGBLADET . Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Reknes, Iselin; Lau, Bjørn; Einarsen, Ståle & Knardahl, Stein (2012). The relationship between role stressors and exposure to workplace bullying-A prospective study of Norwegian employees. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Tvedt, Sturle Danielsen; Nielsen, Morten Birkeland & Lau, Bjørn (2010). Healthy Change Process Index (HCPI) as a predictor of workplace bullying during organizational change. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Tvedt, Sturle Danielsen; Saksvik, Per Øystein; Lau, Bjørn; Finne, Live Bakke; Buvik, Marte Pettersen & Sætren, Gunhild Birgitte [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2009). Developing the Healthy Change Process Index: a new measure assessing management of organizational change processes. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lau, Bjørn; Tvedt, Sturle Danielsen & Saksvik, Per Øystein (2009). How can the effort-reward imbalance be improved by a healthy change process? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Tvedt, Sturle Danielsen; Saksvik, Per Øystein; Lau, Bjørn; Finne, Live Bakke; Pettersen, Marte Buvik & Ingstad, Gunhild Birgitte Zeiner [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2009). Developing the Healthy Change Process Index: a new measure assessing management of organizational change processes. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Magerøy, Nils; Moen, Bente Elisabeth & Lau, Bjørn (2008). Bullying and psychosocial factors at work among navy personnel. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Sterud, Tom; Hem, Erlend; Ekeberg, Øivind & Lau, Bjørn (2007). Occupational stress and alcohol use: A study of two nationwide samples of operational ambulance personnel and police in Norway. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Sterud, Tom; Hem, Erlend; Ekeberg, Øivind & Lau, Bjørn (2007). Occupational stressors and its organizational and individual correlates: A nationwide study of Norwegian ambulance personnel. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Sterud, Tom; Hem, Erlend; Lau, Bjørn & Ekeberg, Øivind (2007). Suicidal ideation in a nationwide sample of operational Norwegian ambulance personnel. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Sterud, Tom; Hem, Erlend; Ekeberg, Øivind & Lau, Bjørn (2007). Occupational stressors and its organizational and individual correlates: A nationwide study of Norwegian ambulance personnel. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Sterud, Tom; Hem, Erlend; Ekeberg, Øivind & Lau, Bjørn (2007). Occupational stress and alcohol use: A study of two nationwide samples of operational ambulance personnel and police in Norway. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Victor, Mattias Erik; Lau, Bjørn; Ruud, Torleif & Lerdal, Anners Vetle (2020). Patient characteristics and factors associated with post-treatment work participation in a Norwegian return to work programme for common mental disorders. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Ljoså, Cathrine Haugene & Lau, Bjørn (2013). Shift work in the Norwegian petroleum industry: work-home interference, mental distress and mastery of work. Universitetet i Oslo. ISSN 9788282645263. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lau, Bjørn (2012). Arbeid, helse og engasjement blant ansatte i Den norske kirke. OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet. ISSN 9788276093155. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Undersøkelsen viser at Den norske kirke har engasjerte og dedikerte arbeidstakere, der de fleste, nesten 90 prosent, svarer at de mottar anerkjennelse, respekt og støtte fra sine kolleger og overordnede. Samtidig viser rapporten at mange ansatte har stort arbeidspress og indikasjoner på utbrenthet. Seniorforsker Lau, Bjørn (AFI) har ledet arbeidet med den kirkelige arbeidsmiljøundersøkelsen.

• Terjesen, Hans Chr. Aa; Lau, Bjørn & Salomon, Robert H (2012). ”Er du her, så regner jeg med deg!”. En studie av god ledelse innenfor pleie og omsorg: Hvordan kan utøvelse av ledelse bidra til å forlenge yrkeskarrieren for seniorer i en sektor preget av tidligpensjonering og uførhet? Arbeidsforskningsinstituttet. ISSN 9788276093179. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lau, Bjørn & GRIMSMO, Asbjørn (2011). Medarbeiderundersøkelse [Rapporten er unndratt offentlighet]. OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Skogstad, Marit; Skorstad, Monica; Lau, Bjørn; Conradi, Hilde Slørdahl; Heir, Trond & Weisæth, Lars (2011). Posttraumatisk stresslidelse (PTSD) og arbeidslivet. STAMI - Statens arbeidsmiljøinstitutt. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Flere instanser har etterspurt en kunnskapsoppsummering om posttraumatisk stresslidelse (PTSD) i arbeidslivet. Statens arbeidsmiljøinstitutt har i samarbeid med Nasjonalt kunnskapssenter om vold og traumatisk stress (NKVTS) utarbeidet en rapport om emnet. Petroleumstilsynet og Statens helsetilsyn har bidratt med økonomisk støtte til prosjektet. Posttraumatisk stresslidelse (PTSD) er en diagnose som har en alvorlig hendelse som et nødvendig diagnostisk kriterium. En potensielt traumatiserende hendelse kan defineres som en erfaring som truer ens eget liv eller en person som står en nær, som fremkaller intens frykt, redsel eller hjelpeløshet. Personer som er blitt utsatt for alvorlige stressbelastninger, kan forbigående eller over tid være plaget med gjenopplevelse av traumet, unngåelse av forhold som minner om traumet, og ha en stor grad av fysiologisk beredskap. Helt siden diagnosen ble tatt i bruk for første gang i 1980, har det vært betydelig uenighet om hva som kvalifiserer for å være en utløsende hendelse som kan lede til posttraumatisk stresslidelse. Mennesker har gjennom alle tider blitt utsatt for potensielt traumatiserende hendelser, og enkelte hevder at det ikke er noen grunn til å sykeliggjøre dette. Andre igjen mener at diagnosen er nødvendig og letter det kliniske arbeidet med personer som opplever store vansker i livet etter å ha opplevd et alvorlig traume. Det forventes en del endringer i det nye diagnosesystemet som kommer i 2013, der det blant annet er foreslått å ha mer objektive mål på selve hendelsen. I den generelle befolkningen vil 1–12 prosent kvalifisere for en PTSD-diagnose i løpet av livet, og forekomsten i løpet av livsløpet ligger jevnt over høyere for kvinner enn for menn. Kun et fåtall av dem som blir utsatt for potensielt traumatiske hendelser, utvikler PTSD. I fredstid antar man at 13 prosent av befolkningen til enhver tid lider av PTSD. Den viktigste risikofaktoren når det gjelder utvikling av PTSD, er alvoret av stressbelastningen. Andre faktorer som kan påvirke utviklingen av PTSD er kvinnelig kjønn, tidligere gjennomgåtte traumer, egen eller nær families psykiske lidelse, lavt evne-og utdannelsesnivå i tillegg til hendelser i etterkant av traumet. Disse faktorene har vist seg å ha en betydning, men de har lav prediktiv verdi hver for seg når det gjelder utvikling av PTSD. En viktig faktor som kan beskytte mot PTSD-utvikling etter traumet, er sosial støtte. De fleste som er blitt eksponert for alvorlig stressbelastning, utvikler ikke PTSD, og mellom 62 og 92 prosent av dem som får diagnosen PTSD, har også andre psykiske tilstander på det tidspunktet PTSD-diagnosen stilles. Studier som er gjennomført etter svært alvorlige hendelser, viser at nær alle får posttraumatiske stressymptomer kort tid etterpå. Likevel vil de fleste som har blitt utsatt for en alvorlig stressbelastning, komme seg i løpet av dager, uker eller måneder. Det å utvikle posttraumatiske stressymptomer etter en alvorlig stressbelastning er en normal reaksjon på en unormal hendelse. I forbindelse med en alvorlig stressbelastning kan noen komme styrket ut av det med en større grad av modenhet, kompetanse, stresstoleranse og aksept. En konsensuskonferanse i Cape Town i 2009 oppsummerer kunnskapen fra flere retningslinjer når det gjelder å skulle forebygge PTSD. Denne kunnskapen om tidlig intervensjon oppsummeres som de 4 P’er: Ikke patologiser (ikke sykeliggjør reaksjonen), ikke psykologiser, unngå piller og ikke påtvinge profesjonell hjelp. Mennesker som opplever høy grad av posttraumatiske stressymptomer én til tre måneder etter den utløsende hendelsen, kan ha behov for profesjonell hjelp, og det er vist at kognitiv terapi har en positiv effekt. Medikamentell behandling med en type antidepressiva har også en god dokumentert effekt når tilstanden vedvarer. I denne rapporten har vi sett nærmere på yrkesgrupper som gjennom sitt arbeid har en økt risiko for å oppleve traumatiske hendelser. Dette kan være innsatsyrker som politi, brannvesen og ambulansetjeneste, og innen dykking eller helsevesen. Mange av studiene som tar for seg PTSD i arbeidslivet, er tverrsnittsstudier basert på spørreskjemaer som er sendt hjem til dem som skal delta i undersøkelsen. Disse studiene viser gjennomgående høyere symptomskår hos dem som har opplevd en alvorlig stressbelastning, enn det som er tilfelle blant kontrollene. Tolkning av resultatene må gjøres med forsiktighet da det er flere metodologiske feilkilder, eksempelvis fare for misklassifisering der respondentene blir bedt om å angi både eksponering og effekter. I tillegg har mange av studiene lav svarprosent. I studier av arbeidstakere, der disse følges over tid etter en alvorlig stressbelastning, er det vist at de posttraumatiske stressymptomene som regel avtar med tiden. Et godt organisatorisk og psykososialt arbeidsmiljø og oppfølging i etterkant av en alvorlig hendelse kan fungere som en beskyttende faktor mot utvikling av PTSD. Arbeidstakere fra yrkesgrupper som ikke har spesiell trening på å håndtere potensielt traumatiserende hendelser, ser ut til å være mer utsatt for PTSD enn trenet personell. I tillegg vil personer som har hatt psykiske problemer forut for ulykken, og som har svak sosial støtte, være særlig utsatt for å utvikle PTSD. Følgelig er det viktig å utvikle et velfungerende arbeidsmiljø og en organisasjon som følger opp sine ansatte, fremmer sosial støtte fra kolleger og ledere, og arbeider systematisk med trening av ansatte.

• Hauge, Lars Johan; Skorstad, Monica Haune & Lau, Bjørn (2010). 3-2-1 Sammen for et godt arbeidsmiljø. 3 parter - 2 bransjer - 1 mål. Oppfølgingsundersøkelse: Sykehjemssektoren. STAMI - Statens arbeidsmiljøinstitutt. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  I et nasjonalt samarbeidsprosjekt mellom Arbeidstilsynet, NAV og arbeidsgiver- og arbeidstakerorganisasjonene er målet å forbedre arbeidsmiljøet, redusere sykefraværet og øke den reelle pensjoneringsalderen i henholdsvis sykehjemssektoren og kjøttindustrien. Statens arbeidsmiljøinstitutt (STAMI) har i denne forbindelse gjennomført en 0-punkts og en oppfølgningskartlegging av ulike sider ved arbeidsmiljøet i virksomhetene som deltar i dette prosjektet. I runde 1 av undersøkelsen deltok 1458 personer fordelt over 21 sykehjem, noe som ga en total responsrate på 62.6 prosent. I runde 2 av undersøkelsen oppfylte til sammen 1489 personer kravene for deltakelse, og av disse besvarte 877 personer fordelt over 18 sykehjem spørreskjemaet også ved runde 2, noe som tilsvarer en responsrate på 58.9 prosent. Spørreskjemaet som danner grunnlaget for undersøkelsen kunne besvares via web eller i papirversjon. Det psykososiale arbeidsmiljøet ble målt ved hjelp av de to standardiserte spørreskjemaene The General Questionnaire for Pychological and Social factors at work (QPSNordic) og The Effort-Reward-Imbalance Questionnaire (ERI-Q). QPSNordic måler en rekke forhold som har betydning for helse, trivsel og motivasjon i arbeidet. ERI-Q måler den såkalte innsats-belønnings-modellen. Denne modellen har i en rekke studier vist seg å ha betydning for tilsattes helse. I tillegg til dette ble det blant annet stilt spørsmål som målte jobbtrivsel, mental helse, muskel- skjelettplager, arbeidsrelatert utmattelse og sykefravær. Sammenlignet med deltakernes responser på tidspunkt 1 kan man registrere en svak nedgang i kvantitative jobbkrav og en svak økning i krav til læring på tidspunkt 2. Tendensene i materialet viser at sykepleiere rapporterer høyere krav i jobben enn hjelpepleiere og ufaglærte. En nokså stor andel av deltakerne ble funnet å ha høye beslutningskrav (30.2%). I forhold til opplevd kontroll i arbeidet ble det ikke registrert noen systematisk endring over tid. Sykepleiere ble funnet å rapportere et høyere nivå av kontroll over arbeidsintensitet enn både hjelpepleiere og ufaglærte. En relativt stor andel av deltakerne ble funnet å rapportere lite kontroll over arbeidsintensitet (41.3%), mens tilsvarende tall for kontroll over avgjørelser var noe lavere (13.4%). For opplevd støtte i arbeidet ble det ikke observert noen systematiske endringer over tid, verken i forhold til støtte fra nærmeste overordnede eller fra kolleger. En liten andel rapporterte om lite støtte fra nærmeste overordnede (4.5%). Ingen systematiske forskjeller ble observert mellom sykepleiere, hjelpepleiere og ufaglærte. Sammenliknet med tidspunkt 1, ble det observert en systematisk økning i rolleklarhet og en nedgang i rollekonflikt på tidspunkt 2. En liten andel rapporterte høye nivåer av rollekonflikt (5.8%). Med tanke på yrkesgrupper, viser resultatene at sykepleiere rapporterer lavere grad av rolleklarhet enn både hjelpepleiere og ufaglærte, mens for rollekonflikt viser resultatene at sykepleiere rapporterer høyere nivåer enn hjelpepleiere. For de to ledelsesfaktorene som ble undersøkt, viser resultatene ingen systematiske endringer fra runde 1 til runde 2. En nokså stor andel rapporterer om lite bemyndigende ledelse (17.7%), mens tilsvarende tall for rettferdig ledelse er betydelig lavere (4.3%). Sykepleiere ble funnet å rapportere høyere nivåer av bemyndigende ledelse enn både hjelpepleiere og ufaglærte. For rettferdig ledelse ble ingen systematiske forskjeller observert. For skalaene som inngår i bolken om organisasjonsklima ble få endringer og forskjeller registrert. Sammenliknet med tidspunkt 1, ble det registrert en økning i vektlegging av menneskelige ressurser på tidspunkt 2. Likevel ble en relativt stor andel av deltakerne funnet å rapportere lite vektlegging av menneskelige ressurser (15.9%). Ingen forskjeller mellom yrkesgruppene ble registrert. I forhold til samspill mellom arbeid og privatliv, ble det ikke registrert systematiske endringer over tid. Totalt ble en liten andel funnet å rapportere at kravene fra jobben påvirker familielivet (10.2%), mens tilsvarende tall for familie til jobbsfæren var mye lavere (1.5%). Sykepleiere ble funnet å rapportere at kravene fra jobben påvirker familielivet i betydelig større grad enn både hjelpepleiere og ufaglærte. For skalaene tilhørighet til organisasjonen og opplevelse av mestring, ble det ikke funnet noen endringer i forhold til grad av opplevelse av mestring, mens en økning i grad av tilhørighet til organisasjonen ble registrert fra runde 1 til runde 2 av undersøkelsen. Likevel rapporterte en liten andel lite tilhørighet til organisasjonen (7.7%). Ingen forskjeller mellom yrkesgruppene ble funnet i forhold til tilhørighet, mens sykepleiere rapporterte mindre grad av opplevelse av mestring sammenliknet med hjelpepleiere og ufaglærte. For de fire skalaene som inngår i innsats-belønnings-modellen ble det funnet bare en endring fra runde 1 til runde 2 av undersøkelsen. Deltakerne rapporterte om høyere grad av karrieremuligheter på tidspunkt 2 sammenliknet med tidspunkt 1. Videre ble sykepleiere funnet å rapportere om mer belastende innsats enn både hjelpepleiere og ufaglærte. I forhold til mobbing og trakassering viser resultatene at 5.2 prosent av deltakerne opplever å ha blitt utsatt for mobbing i løpet av de siste 6 månedene, mens 18 prosent rapporterer å ha observert slik atferd skje på arbeidsplassen. Andelen av respondenter som rapporterer om mobbing i runde 2 av undersøkelsen er stabil i forhold til runde 1, der tilsvarende tall var 6.3 og 18.5 prosent. Verdt å merke seg er at hele 41.8 prosent av deltakerne rapporterte å ha blitt utsatt for fysisk vold på arbeidsplassen. Så godt som alle tilfeller av den rapporterte volden ble rapportert utført av en bruker i institusjonen.

• Hauge, Lars Johan; Skorstad, Monica Haune & Lau, Bjørn (2010). 3-2-1 Sammen for et godt arbeidsmiljø. 3 parter – 2 bransjer – 1 mål. Oppfølgingsundersøkelse: Kjøttindustrien. STAMI - Statens arbeidsmiljøinstitutt. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  I et nasjonalt samarbeidsprosjekt mellom Arbeidstilsynet, NAV og arbeidsgiver- og arbeidstakerorganisasjonene er målet å forbedre arbeidsmiljøet, redusere sykefraværet og øke den reelle pensjoneringsalderen i henholdsvis sykehjemssektoren og kjøttindustrien. Statens arbeidsmiljøinstitutt (STAMI) har i denne forbindelse gjennomført en 0-punkts og en oppfølgningskartlegging av ulike sider ved arbeidsmiljøet i virksomhetene som deltar i dette prosjektet. I runde 1 av undersøkelsen deltok 702 personer fordelt over 10 virksomheter, noe som ga en total responsrate på 61.7 prosent. I runde 2 av undersøkelsen oppfylte til sammen 625 personer kravene for deltakelse, og av disse besvarte 446 personer fordelt over 7 virksomheter spørreskjemaet også ved runde 2, noe som tilsvarer en responsrate på 71.4 prosent. Spørreskjemaet som danner grunnlaget for undersøkelsen kunne besvares via web eller i papirversjon. Det psykososiale arbeidsmiljøet ble målt ved hjelp av de to standardiserte spørreskjemaene The General Questionnaire for Pychological and Social factors at work (QPSNordic) og The Effort-Reward- Imbalance Questionnaire (ERI-Q). QPSNordic måler en rekke forhold som har betydning for helse, trivsel og motivasjon i arbeidet. ERI-Q måler den såkalte innsats-belønnings-modellen. Denne modellen har i en rekke studier vist seg å ha betydning for tilsattes helse. I tillegg til dette ble det blant annet stilt spørsmål som målte mental helse, muskel- skjelettplager og sykefravær. Sammenlignet med deltakernes responser på tidspunkt 1 kan man registrere en nedgang i krav til læring, mens ingen endringer ble observert i forhold til kvantitative krav, beslutningskrav og positive utfordringer i jobben. En relativt stor andel ble funnet å rapportere høye beslutningskrav (12.4%) og lite positive utfordringer i jobben (10.8%). Respondenter som hadde vært sykemeldt siste år rapporterte også noe mindre positive utfordringer i jobben. Ingen systematiske endringer ble registrert med tanke på kontroll i arbeidet over tid. En betydelig andel rapporterte liten kontroll over avgjørelser (25.3%), mens hele 59.6 prosent rapporterte liten kontroll over arbeidsintensitet. Respondenter som hadde vært sykemeldt siste år rapporterte mindre kontroll over både avgjørelser og arbeidsintensitet enn andre som ikke hadde vært sykemeldt siste år. En signifikant endring ble registrert i forhold til sosial støtte fra nærmeste overordnede fra runde 1 til runde 2 av undersøkelsen, mens ingen endring ble registrert i forhold til støtte fra kolleger. En andel på 7.1 prosent rapporterte særlig lite støtte fra nærmeste overordnede på tidspunkt 2, noe som er en betydelig nedgang i forhold til runde 1 (14%). Respondenter som hadde vært sykemeldt siste år rapporterte mindre støtte fra nærmeste overordnede enn andre som ikke hadde vært sykemeldt siste år. For de to ledelsesfaktorene som ble undersøkt, viser resultatene en systematisk forbedring i forhold til både bemyndigende ledelse og rettferdig ledelse fra runde 1 til runde 2 av undersøkelsen. Likevel rapporterer hele 28.2 prosent særlig lave skårer i forhold til bemyndigende ledelse for runde 2. Tilsvarende tall fra runde 1 var derimot hele 34.8 prosent. Respondenter som hadde vært sykemeldt siste år rapporterte også noe mindre bemyndigende ledelse enn andre. For de fire skalaene som inngår i innsats-belønnings-modellen ble det registrert signifikante endringer i forhold til økning av anerkjennelse, karrieremuligheter og jobbsikkerhet. Ingen endring i forhold til belastende innsats ble registrert. Svært få rapporterte særlig ugunstige skårer i forhold til disse skalaene. Respondenter som hadde vært sykemeldt siste år rapporterte noe mindre anerkjennelse enn andre.

• Jacobsen, Kirsti; Schøning, Margrethe; Pettersen, Terje & Lau, Bjørn (2009). 3-2-1. Sammen for et godt arbeidsmiljø. 3 parter, 2 bransjer, 1 mål. STAMI - Statens arbeidsmiljøinstitutt. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Formålet med denne rapporten er å evaluere arbeidsgruppenes arbeid i prosjektet ”3-2-1 Sammen for et godt arbeidsmiljø”. Prosjektet ble initert av Arbeids- og inkluderingsdepartementet (AID) i 2007, og skal avsluttes ultimo 2010. Hensikten med prosjektet er å bedre arbeidsmiljøet, redusere sykefraværet og heve pensjoneringsalderen i to utvalgte bransjer; kjøtt- og fjørfeindustrien og sykehjem. Prosjektet er et samarbeid mellom myndighetsetatene Arbeidstilsynet (AT), Arbeids- og velferdsetaten (NAV) og partene i arbeidslivet. Partene i arbeidslivet er representert på arbeidstakersiden ved Norsk Sykepleierforbund (NSF), Fagforbundet og Norsk Nærings- og Nytelsesforbund (NNN). Arbeidsgiversiden er representert ved NHO Mat & Bio, Kommunenes Sentralforbund (KS), Handel- og servicenæringens hovedorganisasjon (HSH) og Oslo kommune. AT og NAV har sammen jobbet som veiledere i inviterte virksomheter i de to bransjene. Det ble rekruttert 10 virksomheter fra kjøtt- og fjørfeindustrien og 21 sykehjem. I de enkelte virksomhetene er det etablert egne prosjektgrupper bestående av ledelse, tillitsvalgte, verneombud og veiledere. Et mål med prosjektet er å finne velfungerende tiltak og prosesser som kan overføres til andre virksomheter og andre bransjer. Et annet mål er å teste ut bransjesamarbeidet med formål å etablere et mer permanent system for bransjesamarbeid. Formålet med denne mellomevalueringen er todelt: Hvordan kan potensialet i trepartssamarbeidet optimaliseres i den siste delen av prosjektet? Hvordan kan oppfølgingsarbeidet forankres for ettertiden? Det er lagt et godt grunnlag i arbeidsgruppene for videre samarbeid. Fokus i det kommende året blir å bedre kommunikasjonen mellom virksomhetene og arbeidsgruppene for å dokumentere prosesser og tiltak som har en effekt på arbeidsmiljøet. Det blir også viktig å arbeide med informasjon om prosjektet til politiske nivåer, organisasjoner, bransjer og til de enkelte virksomhetene. Prosjektet må få mer støtte fra strategisk hold. Så langt har prosjektet vært personavhengig og ledet av ildsjeler. Det må arbeides videre med mer konkretisering av mål, prosesser og resultater. Økt fokus på medvirkning og forsterkning av lokal tilpasning. Spredningsstrategiene må legge vekt på erfaringsoverføringer fremfor tiltaksoverføringer. Det bør formidles erfaringer videre om suksess og fallgruver i prosjektarbeid. Det er viktig å bringe opp på et metanivå generelle prinsipper, som er anvendt i prosjektet, og som er nyttige.

• Lau, Bjørn (2008). 0-punktundersøkelse: Sykehjem. Sammen for et godt arbeidsmiljø. 3 parter - 2 bransjer - 1 mål. STAMI - Statens arbeidsmiljøinstitutt. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  I et nasjonalt samarbeidsprosjekt mellom Arbeidstilsynet, NAV og arbeidsgiver- og arbeidstakerorganisasjonene har man som mål å forbedre arbeidsmiljøet, redusere sykefraværet og øke den reelle pensjoneringsalderen i henholdsvis sykehjemsbransjen og kjøtt- og fjørfeindustrien. Statens arbeidsmiljøinstitutt (Stami) har i denne forbindelse gjennomført en kartlegging av ulike sider ved arbeidsmiljøet i virksomhetene som deltar i dette prosjektet. 2329 personene fra 22 sykehjem ble invitert til å delta i undersøkelsen. Av disse besvarte 1458 personer, noe som gir en responsrate på 62.6%. Spørreskjemaet kunne besvares via web eller i papirversjon. Det psykososiale arbeidsmiljøet ble målt ved hjelp av de to standardiserte spørreskjemaene General Questionnaire for Pychological and Social factors at work (QPS-Nordic) og The Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (ERI-Q). QPS-Nordic måler en rekke forhold som har betydning for helse, trivsel og motivasjon. ERI-Q måler den såkalte innsats-belønnings modellen. Denne modellen har i en rekke studier vist seg å ha betydning for ansattes helse. I tillegg til dette ble det blant annet stilt spørsmål som målte jobbtilfredshet, dårlig mental helse, muskel/skjelett problemer, arbeidsrelatert utmattelse og sykefravær. Sammenlignet med et referansemateriale fra ulike bransjer og yrkesgrupper rapporterte de ansatte i sykehjemmene om noe mindre kvantitative krav og krav til læring, mens de opplevde krav til å ta beslutninger på samme nivå som andre. I forhold til kontroll i arbeidet rapporterte de om kontroll over avgjørelser på samme nivå som andre, mens de hadde noe mindre kontroll over arbeidsintensitet. Når det kom til opplevd støtte i arbeidet rapporterte de om noe mer støtte fra både nærmeste overordnede og fra kolleger. Det ble funnet noe høyere nivå av både rolleklarhet og rollekonflikt blant deltagerne. I forhold til ledelse rapporterte de om noe mer bemyndigende ledelse enn andre og om rettferdig ledelse på samme nivå som andre. I forhold til organisasjonsklima indikerte resultatene at de sykehjemsansatte opplevde noe bedre sosialt klima og innovasjonsklima enn andre, mens vektlegging av menneskelige ressurser og forskjellsbehandling (på bakgrunn av kjønn og alder) ble funnet å være på samme nivå som hos andre. Videre fant vi noe lavere nivåer av at arbeidet går utover privatlivet og at privatlivet går utover jobben. Deltagerne hadde også noe mer tilhørighet til organisasjonen man er ansatt i, mer mestring av arbeidet, samt høyere nivå av positive utfordringer i arbeidet sammenlignet referansematerialet. Det ble ikke funnet noen forskjeller mellom ulike yrkesgrupper (sykepleiere, hjelpepleiere/fagarbeidere, ufaglærte) i forhold til rapportert psykososialt arbeidsmiljø. En stor andel av deltagerne rapporterte at de hadde svært liten kontroll over arbeidsintensitet (44.9%) og 29,8 % opplevde å ha høye krav til å ta beslutninger. 20% synes ikke virksomheten vektlegger menneskelige ressurser og 19,1 % rapporterte om lite bemyndigende ledelse. Det ble funnet en rekke korrelasjoner mellom QPS-Nordic og ERI-Q på den ene siden og jobbtilfredshet, dårlig mental helse, arbeidsrelatert utmattelse og muskel/skjelett på den andre siden, hvor korrelasjonene mellom ERI-Q skalaene og dårlig mental helse samt arbeidsrelatert utmattelse var særlig sterke. Ansatte som rapporterte at de hadde vært sykemeldt det siste året rapporterte om mer kvantitative krav, belastende innsats og rolle konflikt enn ansatte som ikke hadde vært sykemeldt det siste året. De som hadde vært sykemeldt hadde lavere verdier på skalaene kontroll over arbeidsintensitet, opplevelse av mestring, støtte fra nærmeste overordnede, rettferdig ledelse, sosialt klima, innovasjonskultur, vektlegging av menneskelige ressurser, tilhørighet til organisasjonen, anerkjennelse, karrieremuligheter og jobbsikkerhet enn de som ikke hadde vært sykemeldt.

• Lau, Bjørn (2008). 0-punktundersøkelse: Kjøtt- og fjørfeindustrien. Sammen for et godt arbeidsmiljø. 3 parter - 2 bransjer - 1 mål. STAMI - Statens arbeidsmiljøinstitutt. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  I et nasjonalt samarbeidsprosjekt mellom Arbeidstilsynet, NAV og arbeidsgiver- og arbeidstakerorganisasjonene har man som mål å forbedre arbeidsmiljøet, redusere sykefraværet og øke den reelle pensjoneringsalderen i henholdsvis sykehjemsbransjen og kjøtt- og fjørfeindustrien. Statens arbeidsmiljøinstitutt (Stami) har i denne forbindelse gjennomført en kartlegging av ulike sider ved arbeidsmiljøet i virksomhetene som deltar i dette prosjektet. 1138 personene fra 10 virksomheter i kjøtt- og fjørfeindustrien ble invitert til å delta i undersøkelsen. Av disse besvarte 702 personer, noe som gir en responsrate på 61.7%. Deltagerne ble gitt valget om å besvare et spørreskjema via web eller i papirversjon. Det psykososiale arbeidsmiljøet ble målt ved hjelp av de to standardiserte spørreskjemaene General Questionnaire for Pychological and Social factors at work (QPS-Nordic) og The Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (ERI-Q). QPS-Nordic måler en rekke forhold som har betydning for helse, trivsel og motivasjon. Fra dette instrumentet ble skalaene som måler krav, kontroll, støtte og ledelse inkludert. ERI-Q måler den såkalte innsats-belønnings modellen. Denne modellen har i en rekke studier vist seg å ha betydning for ansattes helse. Skalaene belastende innsats, anerkjennelse, karrieremuligheter og jobbsikkerhet fra ERI-Q ble inkludert i denne studien. I tillegg til dette ble det blant annet stilt spørsmål som målte dårlig mental helse, muskel/skjelett problemer og sykefravær. Sammenlignet med et referansemateriale rapporterte de ansatte i kjøtt og fjørfe virksomhetene om mye mindre krav til læring, ganske mye mindre krav til å ta beslutninger og om noe mindre kvantitative krav. Samtidig hadde de kontroll over avgjørelser som andre, men en del mindre kontroll over arbeidsintensitet. Støtten de rapporterte om å motta fra nærmest leder og kolleger var på samme nivå som i referansematerialet. I forhold til ledelse rapporterte de om bemyndigende ledelse på samme nivå som andre men om noe mindre rettferdig ledelse. I tillegg opplevde de en del mindre positive utfordringer i arbeidet enn andre. En stor andel av deltagerne rapporterte at de hadde svært liten kontroll over arbeidsintensitet (59.4%) og 32,8 % av deltagerne opplevde at nærmeste leder i liten grad var bemyndigende. Det ble funnet en rekke korrelasjoner mellom QPS-Nordic og ERI-Q på den ene siden og dårlig mental helse og muskel skjelett smerter på den andre siden, hvor korrelasjonene mellom ERI-Q skalaene og dårlig mental helse var særlig sterke. De som rapporterte at de hadde vært sykemeldt det siste året rapporterte om et mer ugunstig arbeidsmiljø enn de som ikke hadde vært sykemeldt. Sammenlignet med de som ikke hadde vært sykemeldt rapporterte de om mer kvantitative krav, mindre krav til læring, mindre positive utfordringer i jobben, mindre kontroll over arbeidsintensitet og avgjørelser, mindre støtte fra overordnede og kolleger, de opplevde nærmeste leder som mindre bemyndigende og rettferdig, arbeidsinnsatsen som mer belastende og om mindre anerkjennelse, karrieremuligheter og jobbsikkerhet.

• Lau, Bjørn; Knardahl, Stein & Ljoså, Cathrine Haugene (2007). HMS-konsekvenser av arbeidstidsordninger i petroleumsvirksomheten. Kunnskapsstatus og kunnskapsbehov. STAMI - Statens arbeidsmiljøinstitutt. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  HMS-konsekvenser av arbeidstidsordninger på sokkelen har vært tema i både St.meld. nr. 7 (2001–2002) og i St. meld. nr 12 (2005-2006) HMS- meldingen. Den siste har også tatt opp de nye arbeidstidsordninger som partene har etablert når det gjelder større bygge- og anleggsprosjekter ved landanleggene. Se vedlegg 1. Dette reflekter delvis en bred erkjennelse av at arbeidstidsordninger er en viktig premiss for HMS og delvis uttalte forskjeller i partenes oppfatning om hvilke rotasjonsordninger som gir best HMS og hva som er HMS—konsekvenser av ulike løsninger på dette området. Følgelig har Ptils håndheving og forvaltningspraksis vedrørende arbeidstidsbestemmelsene og restitusjonsforholdene også fått stor oppmerksomhet og på en del områder er det uttrykt motstand fra næringen. Dette prosjektet tar utgangspunkt i føringene fra fra St. meld. nr 12 (2005-2006) HMS- meldingen, og har som mål å skape en bedre forståelse for eksisterende kunnskapsgrunnlag mht sammenhenger mellom skiftarbeid og HMS, og å skape en plattform for videre kunnskapsutvikling på dette området med basis i tre-parts samarbeidet.

• Lau, Bjørn & Ljoså, Cathrine Haugene (2007). Helse, mestring og skiftarbeid. En empirisk studie blant petroleumsarbeidere i Statoils virksomhet på land og sokkel. STAMI - Statens arbeidsmiljøinstitutt. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Fokuset i denne undersøkelsen har vært på ulike forhold relatert til helse og mestring av eksisterende skiftordninger blant land og sokkelansatte i Statoil. Eksisterende skiftordninger har ikke blitt evaluert, men resultatene viser at svært mange opplever at ulempene med egen skiftording oppveies av fordelene. Samtidig rapporterer de fleste om høy jobbtilfredshet. Arbeidstakerne som har blitt undersøkt bærer også preg av å være tilfreds med sin egen helse, samt evnen til å ivareta denne. Tilsvarende er det mange som rapporterer å drive med en eller annen form for trening eller fysisk aktivitet. Ut over dette fant vi at kvinner på mange områder ser ut til å mestre skiftarbeidet bedre enn menn, og at landansatte sliter med flere utfordringer i sin skiftordning enn sokkelansatte. Det ser også ut til å de som jobber hovedsakelig om natten på sokkel rapporterer om flere problemer enn andre ansatte på sokkelen. Generelt ser det ut til at ansatte som selv tar kontroll og ansvar over ulike utfordringer relatert til sin skiftordning, også er de som opplever å mestre disse sidene ved skiftarbeidet best. I tillegg til dette ser det ut til at det psykososiale arbeidsmiljøet, og da særlig det sosiale klimaet, er av vesentlig betydning for en rekke forhold relatert til hvor godt man opplever å mestre ulike aspekter ved skiftarbeid.

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