Affiliations: Department of Neurology, University of Washington,
Seattle, WA, USA | Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of
Washington, Seattle, WA, USA | Department of Neurological Surgery, University of
Washington, Seattle, WA, USA | Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,
University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA | Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington,
Seattle, WA, USA | Department of Medical Education and Biomedical
Information, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA | Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle,
WA, USA
Abstract: In the traumatic brain injury (TBI) vocational literature there have
been limited, but conflicting findings relative to job complexity and work
reentry. This study follows 140 workers at the time of injury and examines
return to work and maintenance within the context of job complexity at three to
five years postinjury. Job complexity was examined as a function of US
Department of Labor ratings of the Reasoning Development and Specific
Vocational Preparation ratings required for each job held and hours worked.
Subgroup comparisons were made across three subgroups: 1) job-maintainers, 2)
those unable to sustain work after returning, and 3) those who could never
return to work. The subgroup that was chiefly able to maintain complex work,
according to U.S. Department of Labor ratings, was more likely to be of female
gender, had fewer alcohol problems, was less severely injured and showed
significantly better neuropsychological functioning. Those unable to sustain
work had between 1.7 and 2.6 chance of holding a job with less complexity and
hours at time of termination. There were no differences between these first two
groups on involvement in the broader US Department of Labor occupational
classification categories. The final subgroup, that was never able to work,
showed both more severe injury and more neuropsychological impairment.
Keywords: Work return, job complexity, job stability
