Dr. Kathleen Dobson
Dr. Kathleen Dobson is an associate scientist at the Institute for Work & Health. Dobson holds a PhD in epidemiology from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto and an MSc in health research methodology from McMaster University.
Dobson’s research explores the interplay of health, socioeconomic attainment and work conditions using complex observational data and longitudinal methods. Her current area of focus is the prevalence and economic consequences of mental illness and mental health among Canadian labour force participants.
Prior to Dobson’s current position, she was a research associate at the Institute for Work & Health, where her research projects focused on determining trajectories of health behaviours among working Canadians—e.g. smoking, alcohol use and body weight—and exploring how these trajectories are influenced by work environments. Dobson’s doctoral studies are supported in part by the IWH’s Syme Training Fellowship in Work and Health.
As an epidemiological scientist, I aim to answer questions that are of interest to scientists, policy-makers and, most importantly, Canadians from all walks of life. I can’t think of more important areas of study than work and health. They touch every aspect of our lives, from how we spend our days, to where we live, and to who we have in our social support networks. My research to date has been focused on the relationship between work and health over decades-long timelines, with long-term findings that offer valuable evidence to inform equitable health and employment policy.– Kathleen Dobson
Research areas
Projects
Publications
- Dobson K, Mustard C, Carnide N, Furlan AD, Smith PM. Impact of persistent pain symptoms on work absence, health status and employment 18 months following disabling work-related injury or illness. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2022;79(10):697-705. doi:10.1136/oemed-2022-108383.
- Dobson K, Vigod SN, Mustard C, Smith PM. Major depressive episodes and employment earnings trajectories over the following decade among working-aged Canadian men and women. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2021;285:37-46. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.02.019.
- Dobson K, Vigod SN, Mustard C, Smith PM. Trends in the prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders among working-age Canadian adults between 2000 and 2016. Health Reports. 2020;31(12):12-23. doi:10.25318/82-003-x202001200002-eng.
- Dobson K, Gilbert-Ouimet M, Mustard C, Smith PM. Body mass index trajectories among the Canadian workforce and their association with work environment trajectories over 17 years. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2020;77(6):374-380. doi:10.1136/oemed-2019-106023.
- Biswas A, Dobson K, Gignac MA, de Oliveira C, Smith PM. Changes in work factors and concurrent changes in leisure time physical activity: a 12-year longitudinal analysis. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2020;77(5):309-315. doi:10.1136/oemed-2019-106158.
Speaker Series presentations
- Persistent pain: its role in work absence, health, and employment after a disabling work-related injury . IWH Speaker Series. November 15, 2022.
- Uncovering the impact of a depressive episode on employment earnings of Canadian workers. IWH Speaker Series. November 9, 2021.
- Trends in depression and anxiety among Canadian labour force participants (2000-2016). IWH Speaker Series. October 22, 2019.
Interviews and articles
- Study finds long-term pain an issue for many injured workers. Safety+Health. November 14, 2022. Available from: https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/23236-study-finds-long-term-pain-an-issue-for-many-injured-workers
- 7 in 10 injured workers still experience pain 18 months later. Canadian HR Reporter. November 9, 2022. Available from: https://www.hrreporter.com/focus-areas/employment-law/7-in-10-injured-workers-still-experience-pain-18-months-later/371355
- IWH study finds 7 in 10 injured workers still experience pain more than a year after injury. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 110, Fall 2022.
- Having depression leads to lower earnings over 10 years: study. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 104, Spring 2021.