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Personality Traits, Psychological Health, and the Workers' Compensation System

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 October 2015

Cindy L. Wall*
Affiliation:
Monash University, Australia. [email protected]
Shirley A. Morrissey
Affiliation:
Griffith University, Australia.
James R.P. Ogloff
Affiliation:
Monash University, Australia.
*
*Address for correspondence: Cindy Wall, GPO Box 107, Darwin NT 0801, Australia.
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Abstract

This study explored the influence of personality traits on injured workers' interaction with workers' compensation systems. Data were collected from 89 participant claimants (males, 41; females 48, mean age = 45 years, SD = 10.67 years) at various levels of involvement with the workers' compensation system: previous claimants (n = 39), current claimants (n = 28), and nonclaimant workers (n = 22). Significant differences in personality traits were found between these groups of compensation claimants. Current compensation claimants displayed greater emotional instability and introversion compared with those less acutely involved in the compensation system. Current claimants also experienced clinically significant levels of symptoms of depression, anxiety, somatic complaints, and reported reduced social functioning, relative to previous and nonclaimants, respectively. Overall, subtle differences were found to exist in personality and psychological health between groups of workers at different levels of involvement with the workers' compensation system.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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