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Cited by 60Urban Green Space and HealthOccupational Therapy Practice and ResearchWorkplace Health and Well-being

Longer nature-based rehabilitation may contribute to a faster return to work in patients with reactions to severe stress and/or depression

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Grahn, Patrik, Pálsdóttir, Anna María, Ottosson, Johan, Jonsdottir, Ingibjörg H.·2017·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
DOI 10.3390/ijerph14111310PMC PMC5707949
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Abstract

The global burden of depression and stress-related mental disorders is substantial, and constitutes a major need for effective rehabilitation. Can nature-based rehabilitation help people return to work? Objective: To study if the length of a nature-based rehabilitation program affects the outcome with regard to return to work one year after the onset of the program, in a group of patients with long-term reactions to severe stress and/or depression. Methods: A prospective, quasi-experimental study comparing results from 8-, 12-, and 24-week periods of rehabilitation. The rehabilitation of 106 participants was carried out by a multimodal rehabilitation team in a specially designed rehabilitation garden. Return to work data were collected before the intervention and one year after the start of rehabilitation. In addition, data were collected regarding self-assessed occupational competence, personal control, and sense of coherence. As many as 68% of the participants returned to work or participated in job training or work-oriented measures, full- or part-time, after one year. Participants with a longer period of rehabilitation reported better results on occupational competence, and were more likely to participate in paid work, full-time or part-time, one year after rehabilitation. Study outcomes indicate that a longer rehabilitation period in a rehabilitation garden increases the possibility of a return to paid work.

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Authors
Grahn, P., Pálsdóttir, A. M., Ottosson, J., & Jonsdottir, I. H.
Affiliations
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SE)
  • The Institute of Stress Medicine, Region Västra Götaland, Carl Skottsbergs Gata 22B, SE 413 19 Gothenburg, Sweden
Corresponding author
Grahn, Patrik
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2017-10-27
Volume
14
Issue
11
Pages
1310
ISSN
1660-4601 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/ijerph14111310
PMC
PMC5707949
OpenAlex
W2766450649
Cited by
60
References
75
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 1
FWCI
2.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
the Swedish Research Council Formas (2011-4982-21023-120)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Urban Green Space and Health
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Therapy Practice and Research
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Workplace Health and Well-being
Keywords
nature-based rehabilitation, return to work, depression, stress-related disorders, program duration, occupational competence, personal control, sense of coherence, job training, paid employment
MeSH terms
Adult, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Rehabilitation, Vocational, Stress, Psychological, Sweden, Time Factors, Young Adult, Return to Work

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