Abstract
Seeking or receiving compensation after injury is frequently associated with poor recovery. Previous research has shown that the stressful nature of compensation procedures and perceived injustice may cause secondary harm. This study examined compensation system experiences in compensation claimants in Victoria, Australia, and explored the relationship between these experiences and injury outcomes. One hundred and sixty compensable patients (120 male, 75.0 %) aged 18–67 years (M = 43.01, SD = 14.31), hospitalized for an injury in a motor vehicle crash (n = 137) or at work (n = 23), participated. Participants completed questionnaires about compensation system experience, pain, and psychological symptoms 12 months after injury. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the compensation system experience items revealed three components explaining 66.64 % of the variance in compensation experience: (1) “negative procedural experience” (47.29 %), (2) “compensation supported recovery” (10.43 %), and (3) “positive procedural experience” (8.92 %). Worse experience on all components was associated with worse pain (severity, interference, catastrophizing, disability) and psychological symptoms (anxiety, depression, PTSD, perceived injustice). Compensation system experience reflected both negative and positive procedural factors, and feeling supported through recovery. Most participants reported having positive experiences; however, those who were frustrated or stressed from compensation procedures had worse pain and psychological health outcomes. While this association is likely to be bidirectional with “non-recovery” also impacting on compensation experience appraisals, compensation schemes should nonetheless address modifiable sources of procedural injustice (e.g., arduous paperwork and approvals processes) and reinforce procedures that generate perceptions of support (e.g., timely and appropriate access to health services).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 376-389 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Psychological Injury and Law |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2016 |
Keywords
- Compensation
- Injustice
- Motor vehicle collision
- Pain
- Psychological functioning
- Trauma
- Workplace injury
Cite this
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Compensation system experience at 12 months after road or workplace injury in Victoria, Australia. / Ioannou, Liane; Braaf, Sandra; Cameron, Peter; Gibson, Stephen J.; Ponsford, Jennie; Jennings, Paul A.; Arnold, Carolyn A.; Georgiou-Karistianis, Nellie; Giummarra, Melita J.
In: Psychological Injury and Law, Vol. 9, No. 4, 12.2016, p. 376-389.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Compensation system experience at 12 months after road or workplace injury in Victoria, Australia
AU - Ioannou, Liane
AU - Braaf, Sandra
AU - Cameron, Peter
AU - Gibson, Stephen J.
AU - Ponsford, Jennie
AU - Jennings, Paul A.
AU - Arnold, Carolyn A.
AU - Georgiou-Karistianis, Nellie
AU - Giummarra, Melita J.
PY - 2016/12
Y1 - 2016/12
N2 - Seeking or receiving compensation after injury is frequently associated with poor recovery. Previous research has shown that the stressful nature of compensation procedures and perceived injustice may cause secondary harm. This study examined compensation system experiences in compensation claimants in Victoria, Australia, and explored the relationship between these experiences and injury outcomes. One hundred and sixty compensable patients (120 male, 75.0 %) aged 18–67 years (M = 43.01, SD = 14.31), hospitalized for an injury in a motor vehicle crash (n = 137) or at work (n = 23), participated. Participants completed questionnaires about compensation system experience, pain, and psychological symptoms 12 months after injury. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the compensation system experience items revealed three components explaining 66.64 % of the variance in compensation experience: (1) “negative procedural experience” (47.29 %), (2) “compensation supported recovery” (10.43 %), and (3) “positive procedural experience” (8.92 %). Worse experience on all components was associated with worse pain (severity, interference, catastrophizing, disability) and psychological symptoms (anxiety, depression, PTSD, perceived injustice). Compensation system experience reflected both negative and positive procedural factors, and feeling supported through recovery. Most participants reported having positive experiences; however, those who were frustrated or stressed from compensation procedures had worse pain and psychological health outcomes. While this association is likely to be bidirectional with “non-recovery” also impacting on compensation experience appraisals, compensation schemes should nonetheless address modifiable sources of procedural injustice (e.g., arduous paperwork and approvals processes) and reinforce procedures that generate perceptions of support (e.g., timely and appropriate access to health services).
AB - Seeking or receiving compensation after injury is frequently associated with poor recovery. Previous research has shown that the stressful nature of compensation procedures and perceived injustice may cause secondary harm. This study examined compensation system experiences in compensation claimants in Victoria, Australia, and explored the relationship between these experiences and injury outcomes. One hundred and sixty compensable patients (120 male, 75.0 %) aged 18–67 years (M = 43.01, SD = 14.31), hospitalized for an injury in a motor vehicle crash (n = 137) or at work (n = 23), participated. Participants completed questionnaires about compensation system experience, pain, and psychological symptoms 12 months after injury. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the compensation system experience items revealed three components explaining 66.64 % of the variance in compensation experience: (1) “negative procedural experience” (47.29 %), (2) “compensation supported recovery” (10.43 %), and (3) “positive procedural experience” (8.92 %). Worse experience on all components was associated with worse pain (severity, interference, catastrophizing, disability) and psychological symptoms (anxiety, depression, PTSD, perceived injustice). Compensation system experience reflected both negative and positive procedural factors, and feeling supported through recovery. Most participants reported having positive experiences; however, those who were frustrated or stressed from compensation procedures had worse pain and psychological health outcomes. While this association is likely to be bidirectional with “non-recovery” also impacting on compensation experience appraisals, compensation schemes should nonetheless address modifiable sources of procedural injustice (e.g., arduous paperwork and approvals processes) and reinforce procedures that generate perceptions of support (e.g., timely and appropriate access to health services).
KW - Compensation
KW - Injustice
KW - Motor vehicle collision
KW - Pain
KW - Psychological functioning
KW - Trauma
KW - Workplace injury
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84992694916&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s12207-016-9275-1
DO - 10.1007/s12207-016-9275-1
M3 - Article
VL - 9
SP - 376
EP - 389
JO - Psychological Injury and Law
JF - Psychological Injury and Law
SN - 1938-971X
IS - 4
ER -