Comparing Profiles of Mental Illness and Positive Mental Health Between Injured Workers and the General Working Population in Ontario.

Injured workers were more likely to belong to high-burden mental illness classes compared to general workers.

• 19% of injured workers belonged to high-burden mental illness classes versus 9% of general workers.
• The OLAWIS sample consisted of 1132 Ontario workers with a physical work-related injury.
• The MH-CCHS comparison sample consisted of 1652 general workers in compensation-covered industries.
• Chi-square tests assessed between-sample differences in class membership.
• Mental illness was self-reported 18 months post-injury in OLAWIS as a mood or anxiety disorder diagnosed pre- or post-injury.

Injured workers were more likely to belong to the languishing positive mental health class compared to general workers.

• 11% of injured workers belonged to the languishing positive mental health class versus 4% of general workers.
• Positive mental health was measured in both samples using the Mental Health Continuum Short Form.
• Three PMH classes were identified in each sample (OLAWIS and MH-CCHS).
• Chi-square tests were used to assess within- and between-sample differences in PMH class membership.

Latent class analysis identified different numbers of mental illness classes in the injured worker and general worker samples.

• Three mental illness and PMH classes were identified in the OLAWIS (injured worker) sample.
• Four mental illness classes and three PMH classes were identified in the MH-CCHS (general worker) sample.
• Mental illness in MH-CCHS was defined as a major depressive episode or generalized anxiety disorder.
• Latent class analysis was conducted separately in each sample.

Injured workers reported lower emotional and psychological well-being but higher belonging than general workers.

• Differences were observed across specific positive mental health subdomains between the two samples.
• Emotional and psychological well-being were lower among injured workers compared to general workers.
• Social belonging was reported as higher among injured workers than general workers.
• These differences were assessed using the Mental Health Continuum Short Form subscales.

The majority of workers in both samples showed low mental illness and flourishing positive mental health.

• Most workers in both the OLAWIS and MH-CCHS samples belonged to low mental illness and flourishing PMH classes.
• Despite this, injured workers more often showed high mental illness and languishing PMH relative to general workers.
• The study compared 1132 injured workers to 1652 general workers in compensation-covered industries.
• Data for injured workers were collected at 18 months post-injury.

The study used a dual-continuum framework examining both mental illness and positive mental health as distinct dimensions.

• Complete mental health was conceptualized as including both mental illness (MI) and positive mental health (PMH).
• MI and PMH were treated as separate constructs rather than opposite ends of a single continuum.
• PMH was measured using the Mental Health Continuum Short Form in both samples.
• This approach allowed for identification of workers who may have high MI alongside varying levels of PMH.

The authors suggest that targeting psychological and emotional well-being may help improve overall mental health among injured workers.

• Injured workers showed lower emotional and psychological well-being compared to general workers.
• Injured workers showed higher belonging than general workers, suggesting belonging is a relative strength.
• The recommendation focuses on specific PMH subdomains rather than mental illness alone.
• This conclusion was based on observed between-group differences in PMH class membership and subdomain scores.