Authors: Antonina Pavilanis; Manon Truchon; Marie Achille; Pierre Coté; Michael JL Sullivan · Research
How Do Feelings of Injustice Affect Recovery After a Work Injury?
Research explores how perceptions of unfairness can impact mental health and recovery after workplace injuries.
Source: Pavilanis, A., Truchon, M., Achille, M., Coté, P., & Sullivan, M. J. L. (2022). Perceived Injustice as a Determinant of the Severity of Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms Following Occupational Injury. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 33, 134-144. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-022-10056-5
What you need to know
- Feeling unfairly treated after a work injury can significantly impact mental health and recovery
- Around 15% of injured workers experience significant post-traumatic stress symptoms that persist over time
- Addressing perceptions of injustice early may help improve recovery outcomes
The Hidden Mental Health Impact of Workplace Injuries
When Sarah hurt her back at work, she expected the physical pain would be the hardest part of recovery. But as weeks went by, she found herself struggling with something else - a deep sense of unfairness about her situation. Why did this happen to me? Why isn’t anyone taking my injury seriously? These thoughts began to consume her, leading to anxiety, troubled sleep, and difficulty moving forward.
Sarah’s experience isn’t unique. Research shows that many people who suffer workplace injuries struggle not just with physical pain, but with psychological distress related to feeling unfairly treated during their recovery process.
Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress After Injury
Post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) can develop even without a major traumatic event. These symptoms may include:
- Intrusive thoughts about the injury
- Nightmares and sleep problems
- Emotional distress
- Avoiding reminders of the injury
- Feeling constantly on edge
This study found that about one-third of injured workers initially experienced significant post-traumatic stress symptoms, with 15% continuing to have severe symptoms weeks later.
The Cycle of Injustice and Trauma
The research revealed an important pattern: feeling unfairly treated and experiencing trauma symptoms can create a harmful cycle. When people perceive injustice in how their injury case is handled, they’re more likely to develop trauma symptoms. In turn, having trauma symptoms can make people more sensitive to perceiving unfair treatment.
This creates what researchers call a “bi-directional relationship” - each problem makes the other worse over time.
The Role of Pain and Gender
The study found several other important factors that influence recovery:
- Women reported more severe pain and post-traumatic stress symptoms than men
- Higher pain levels were associated with worse trauma symptoms
- Having pain in multiple body areas increased the risk of psychological distress
- Catastrophic thinking (assuming the worst) contributed to both perceived injustice and trauma symptoms
What This Means for You
If you’re recovering from a workplace injury, be aware that your emotional well-being is just as important as your physical recovery:
- Watch for signs of trauma symptoms like nightmares, anxiety, or avoiding injury-related situations
- Don’t dismiss feelings of being treated unfairly - they can significantly impact your recovery
- Seek professional help if you’re struggling with emotional distress
- Consider working with an advocate who can help navigate the claims process
- Practice stress management techniques to help cope with both physical and emotional pain
Conclusions
- The psychological impact of workplace injuries often goes beyond just physical pain
- Feeling unfairly treated can create a cycle that makes both physical and emotional recovery more difficult
- Early intervention addressing both physical and psychological aspects of injury may lead to better outcomes