Chronic conditions and work
Chronic conditions refer to diseases and health conditions that last a long time and generally progress slowly. Although they can occur at any age, they become more common later in life. They are often invisible, sometimes episodic (i.e. they come and go) and often characterized by fluctuating symptoms that leave people disabled one day and functional the next. Examples of chronic diseases include arthritis, diabetes, chronic pain, depression and fibromyalgia. IWH research in this area focuses on the effects of chronic disease on work participation and productivity, as well as the effectiveness of job accommodations, benefits and other programs to ensure workers with chronic disease can stay at, or return to, work.
Featured
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Research Highlights
How do employment support programs impact the health of young adults with episodic disabilities?
Episodic disabilities can make it challenging for workers to find and sustain employment while managing their symptoms and work demands. An IWH study investigated the health impacts of employment support programs for young adults with episodic disabilities.
Published: April 8, 2024
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IWH Speaker Series
Unveiling the JDAPT: A new interactive tool to identify work-related support strategies for workers with chronic conditions and disability
In this presentation, Dr. Monique Gignac describes the JDAPT tool, its development, as well as data from two studies on the tool. She discusses the JDAPT’s potential to help workers by focusing on work solutions, not medical diagnoses and symptoms.
Published: March 21, 2023
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Research Highlights
How workplace support needs differ for younger and older adults with chronic disease
When it comes to workplace supports, people with chronic disease have similar needs, even at different ages and career stages. However, young people face unique challenges related to accessing workplace supports, including a lack of available workplace resources and difficulty overcoming preconceptions around youth and chronic conditions.
Published: August 2018
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Research Highlights
Gender differences in the link between psychosocial work exposures and stress
Women’s and men's stress levels are affected differently by psychosocial work exposures such as supervisor or co-worker support, job control, job demand and job insecurity.
Published: August 2018
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At Work article
Sex/gender analysis: Men and women with arthritis have same needs at work, but not the same supports
Study of workers with arthritis finds the need for workplace supports goes unmet more often among women, and that's due to the type of jobs and workplaces women are in.
Published: August 2018
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At Work article
Sex/gender analysis: Links between psychosocial work factors and stress not always as expected
IWH study examines differences between men and women when it comes to the links between stress and psychosocial work factors such as supervisor support, job control and job security.
Published: August 2018
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At Work article
Sex/gender analysis: Gender study finds overwork linked to higher risks of diabetes in women, not men
Working too long increases risks of diabetes—for women, not men—IWH and ICES study finds.
Published: August 2018
Journal article
Journal article
Psychosocial work factors and diabetes: what is known and what is left to know?
Published: Journal of Diabetes, Metabolic Disorders & Control, August 2018
Journal article
Journal article
Adverse effect of long work hours on incident diabetes in 7065 Ontario workers followed for 12 years
Published: BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, July 2018
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IWH in the media
Hard-working women, go home earlier to avoid this disease
Here's a good reason for women to work less, ask for a raise or get their partners to pick up around the house more: If women work fewer hours, it'll lower their risk of diabetes, according to a study by the Institute for Work & Health, reports CNN's Jen Christensen.
Published: CNN, July 2018
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IWH in the media
Working overtime could raise women's diabetes risk
Working lots of overtime may get you appreciation from the boss, but it might be bad for your health, writes Serena Gordon of U.S. News & World Report, about a new IWH study
Published: U.S. News & World Report, July 2018
Journal article
Journal article
Self-reported work conditions in Canada: examining changes between 2002 and 2012
Published: Canadian Journal of Public Health, July 2018