Contingencies of self-worth in employees on medical leave due to mental health disorders

Abstract

This study investigated the personality of employees on medical leave due to mental health disorders. Focusing on Contingencies of self-worth (CSW) as a metric of personality, we examined whether the CSW of employees on medical leave due to mental health disorders matched the perceived values of their workplace, in comparison with that of employees at work. We also examined the change of CSW before and after medical leave. Thirty-six employees on medical leave and 133 employees at work participated in this survey study. The results showed that three types of CSW (CSW for being superior, for having positive evaluation from others, for having autonomy) were higher in employees on medical leave than in employees at work. We also showed that there was a large difference between each type of CSW of employees on medical leave and the perceived values of their workplace and that all three types of CSW decreased after medical leave.