Temporary Disability Pension from the Perspective of the Individual: Self-Reported Physical and Mental Health, Medical Rehabilitation, and Return to Work Plans

Study purpose: To assess health and psychosocial variables as well as return-to-work (RTW) plans in people with long-term illness-related absence from work in Germany. Methods: Structured telephone interviews with N = 452 persons receiving a temporary disability pension (53.3 % female, mean age 50.3 years). Results: Participants reported high levels of multimorbidity and physical and mental complaints. The majority however stated to intend or even to have prepared their RTW. This intention was correlated with age and the duration of the temporary disability pension, but not with gender, number or type of diseases, or current subjective health status. Conclusion: Our results indicate a large intention-behavior gap which needs to be addressed in studies, but also in rehabilitation and return-to-work interventions.