A1 Journal article (refereed)
Effects of rehabilitative psychotherapy on labour market success : Evaluation of a nationwide programme (2023)
Peutere, L., Ravaska, T., Bӧckerman, P., Vӓӓnӓnen, A., & Virtanen, P. (2023). Effects of rehabilitative psychotherapy on labour market success : Evaluation of a nationwide programme. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 51(6), 882-893. https://doi.org/10.1177/14034948221074974
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Peutere, Laura; Ravaska, Terhi; Bӧckerman, Petri; Vӓӓnӓnen, Ari; Virtanen, Pekka
Journal or series: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health
ISSN: 1403-4948
eISSN: 1651-1905
Publication year: 2023
Publication date: 04/02/2022
Volume: 51
Issue number: 6
Pages range: 882-893
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/14034948221074974
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/79714
Abstract
Psychotherapy is a widely used treatment for mental disorders, but whether it also improves employment and other labour market outcomes remains inconclusive. This study examined the effectiveness of a nationwide subsidized psychotherapy programme using extensive register-based data.
Methods:
The sample consisted of individuals who applied for rehabilitative psychotherapy in Finland in 2009–2012 (n = 35,083). Prior to 2011, some applications were rejected due to the limited budget that the central government provided for the programme. From 2011, all eligible applicants were granted rehabilitation. We used propensity score matching to create balanced samples of those who received a negative decision in 2009–2010 (n = 2047) and those who were granted rehabilitative psychotherapy in 2011–2012 (n = 12,046) in terms of their sociodemographic background characteristics, prior labour market attachment and health status.
Results:
We found that compared to the applicants who were not accepted to the programme, the granted applicants with similar background characteristics had, on average, a six-percentage-point higher employment rate, €2100 higher annual earnings and a six-percentage-point lower probability of becoming a disability benefit recipient five years after their first application. Further sensitivity analyses confirmed that these results were not biased, for example, by differences in macroeconomic conditions during the follow-up.
Conclusions:
Quasi-experimental research design showed that rehabilitative psychotherapy was significantly associated with better labour market outcomes. Although several relevant background factors were included in the matching analysis, it is possible that some unobserved factors explain both access to psychotherapy and subsequent labour market outcomes.
Keywords: mental disorders; mental health rehabilitation; psychotherapy; labour status; employment; earned income; incapacity for work
Free keywords: employment; mental disorders; psychotherapy; rehabilitation; income; work disability
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2022
JUFO rating: 1
