Health and Stress Management and Mental-health Disability Claims

This study examines the associations between health and stress management (HSM) practices and mental‐health disability claims. Data from the Salveo study was collected during 2009–2012 within 60 workplaces nested in 37 companies located in Canada (Quebec) and insured by a large insurance company. In each company, 1 h interviews were conducted with human resources managers in order to obtain data on 63 HSM practices. Companies and workplaces were sorted into the low‐claims and high‐claims groups according to the median rate of the population of the insurer's corporate clients. Logistic regression adjusted for design effect and multidimensional scaling was used to analyse the data. After controlling for company size and economic sector, task design, demands control, gratifications, physical activity and work–family balance were associated with low mental‐health disability claims rates. Further analyses revealed three company profiles that were qualified as laissez‐faire, integrated and partially integrated approaches to HSM. Of the three, the integrated profile was associated with low mental‐health disability claims rates. The results of this study provide evidence‐based guidance for a better control of mental‐health disability claims. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.