Work self-efficacy of individuals injured on the job

Abstract

Each year thousands of individuals are injured on the job. With effective medical treatment, musculoskeletal injuries heal and most individuals returned to· work; however, some do not make the transition from medical treatment back to work. Through selfefficacy theory Bandura' s ( 1977) postulates that individuals maintain considerable influence over the outcome of their experience based on their self-perceptions. However, research is lacking on whether individuals with higher levels of work self-efficacy are more likely to return to work sooner following an injury than individuals with lower levels of work self-efficacy. Therefore, through this exploratory research, the Return to Work Self-Efficacy Scale was developed and tested through in-person interviews with a convenience sample of 19 participants who were injured on the job; were in receipt of Workers' Compensation benefits; and were attending their final treatment at an Occupation Rehabilitation Program, Canadian Back Institute. Analysis revealed that individuals with a high level of work self-efficacy, also presented with a high level of coping with pain self-efficacy, a high level of physical function self-efficacy, a high level of coping with symptoms self-efficacy. These individuals were more likely to return to work following injury than their lower level of self-efficacy counterparts. The research concludes with recommendations for further study.