Agneta Lindegård Andersson
Associate professor
Tel: +46 31-342 07 21
Mobile: +46 707-462029
agneta.lindegard@vgregion.se
Research areas
I began my research career at the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Division of Social Medicine and Public Health in 1999. The findings from this part of my research field, which focused on ergonomics in general and computer ergonomics in particular, are summarized in the dissertation titled “Working Technique During Computer Work – Associations with Biomechanical and Psychosocial Strain and Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Symptoms.”
From 2008 onwards, my research area has expanded, and my current focus lies in clinically oriented research related to stress-related health issues. My main area of interest is treatment studies aimed at understanding the effects of controlled physical activity on conditions such as fatigue syndrome and other stress-related health problems. Additionally, I investigate work capacity and return-to-work outcomes for patients diagnosed with stress-related exhaustion. I also perform studies with the work environment field. However, studies in the field of occupational health have primarily focused on the relationship between different workplace exposures and their connections to stress-related diagnoses. In recent years, my research has increasingly shifted towards studying the outcomes of various interventions. These interventions range from ergonomic measures (such as using prism glasses in dentistry) to more organizational approaches. For instance, I have explored the possibility of retaining older employees in the healthcare and social care sector through organizational-level changes (the ‘ArbetsKraft’ project).
Teaching and supervision
Currently, I am supervising a doctoral student whose thesis focuses on return-to-work after exhaustion syndrome. Additionally, I provide guidance to students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including those in ergonomics, medical programs, various branches of public health sciences, and occupational science. I have also been involved since 2008 in initiating, developing, implementing, and updating the region-wide ‘Stress School.’ This patient education program caters to individuals seeking help for stress-related health issues in primary care. Over the years, approximately 500 supervisors have been trained to lead these schools in healthcare centers and rehabilitation units across the region.
Publications
Ellbin S, Lindegård A, Jonsdottir H Ingibjörg, Dahlborg E. Psychologists’ involvement in and experiences of treating patients with stress-related exhaustion in primary care. BMC Primary Care (2024) 25:56 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-024-02287-7
A. Lindegård, A. Grimby-Ekman, J. Wahlström, E. Gustafsson,
Can biofeedback training in combination with ergonomic information reduce pain among young adult computer users with neck and upper extremity symptoms? - A randomized controlled intervention study
Applied Ergonomics, 2024
Jonsson,R., Nilsson,K., Björk,L., Lindegård,A.
Engaging the missing actor: lessons learned from an age-management intervention targeting line managers and their HR partners
Journal of workplace learning, 2023
Lindegård A, Glise K, Wiegner L, Reinhardt P, Hadzibajramovic E, Ellbin S, Pettersson S, Jonsdottir I.
Effects of additional individually tailored interventions on sick-leave and symptoms in patients with exhaustion disorder – A randomized controlled trial.
J Rehabil Med. 2022
Beno A, Hensing G, Lindegård A, Jonsdottir IH.
Self-reported changes in work situation - a cross-sectional study of patients 7 years after treatment for stress-related exhaustion.
BMC Public Health. 2021
Håkansson, C., Gard, G. & Lindegård, A.
Perceived work stress, overcommitment, balance in everyday life, individual factors, self-rated health and work ability among women and men in the public sector in Sweden – a longitudinal study.
Archives of Public Health, 2020
Arvidsson I, Gremark Simonsen J, Lindegård-Andersson A, Björk J, Nordander C
The impact of occupational and personal factors on musculoskeletal pain - a cohort study of female nurses, sonographers and teachers.
BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 2020
Jonsson R, Lindegård A, Björk L, Nilsson K.
Organizational hindrances to the retention of Older Healthcare workers
Nordic Journal of Working Life, 2020
Lindegård A, Wastensson G, Hadzibajramovic E, Grimby-Ekman A
Longitudinal associations between cardiorespiratory fitness and stress-related exhaustion, depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances
BMC Public Health, 2019
Lindegård, A, Nordander, C, Jacobsson, H, Arvidsson I (2016). Opting to wear prismatic spectacles was associated with reduced neck pain in dental personnel: a longitudinal cohort study. BMC Musculoskeletal disorders, 2016
Lindegård A, Jonsdottir IH, Börjesson M, Lindwall M and Gerber M. Changes in mental health in compliers and non-compliers with physical activity recommendations in patients with stress-related exhaustion. BMC Psychiatry, November 2015
Gerber, M., Jonsdottir, I.H., Arvidson E., Lindwall M, Lindegård A. Promoting Graded Exercise as a Part of Multimodal Treatment in Patients Diagnosed with Stress-Related Exhaustion Journal of clinical nursing, 2015
Eva Sahlin, Agneta Lindegård, Emina Hadzibajramovic, Patrik Grahn, Josefa Vega Matuszczyk & Gunnar Ahlborg Jr. The Influence of the Environment on Directed Attention, Blood Pressure and Heart Rate—An Experimental Study Using a Relaxation Intervention Landscape Research, 2014
Lindegård A, Larsman P, Hadzibajramovic E, Ahlborg G Jr. The influence of perceived stress and musculoskeletal pain on work performance and work ability in Swedish health care workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health, Maj 2014
Arvidson, E., Börjesson, M., Ahlborg G., Lindegård A., Jonsdottir I.H. The level of leisure time physical activity is associated with work ability- a cross sectional and prospective study of health care workers. BMC Public Health, September 2013
Gerber, M, Lindwall M, Lindegård A, Börjesson M. Jonsdottir I.H. Cardiorespiratory Fitness Protects Against Stress-Related Symptoms of Burnout and Depression. Patient Educ Couns, April 2013
Lindegård A, Wahlström J, Hagberg M, Wihelmsson R, Toomingas A Tornqvist E. Perceived exertion, comfort and working technique in professional computer users and associations with the incidence of neck and upper extremity symptoms. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, Mars 2012
Lindegård A, Gustafsson M, Hansson G-Å. Effects of optometric correction including prismatic lenses on head and neck kinematics, perceived exertion and comfort during dental work in the oral cavity – A randomised controlled intervention. Applied Ergonomics, Januari 2012
Gustafsson E, Johnson P, Lindegård A, Hagberg M. Technique, muscle activity and kinematic differences in young adults texting on mobile phones. Ergonomics, Maj 2011
Larsman P, Lindegård A, Ahlborg G Jr. Longitudinal relations between psychosocial work environment, stress and the development of musculoskeletal pain 2011. Stress & Health, Augusti 2011
Dellve L, Ahlstrom L, Jonsson A, Sandsjö L, Forsman M, Lindegård A, Ahlstrand C, Kadefors R, Hagberg M. Myofeedback training and intensive muscular strength training to decrease pain and improve work ability among female workers on long-term sick leave with neck pain: a randomized controlled trial. Int Arch Occup Environ Health, 2011
Huis in 't Veld RM, Kosterink SM, Barbe T, Lindegård A, Marecek T, Vollenbroek-Hutten MM. Relation between patient satisfaction, compliance and the clinical benefit of a teletreatment application for chronic pain J Telemed Telecare, 2010
Lindegard A, Karlberg C, Wigaeus Tornqvist E, Toomingas A, Hagberg M. Concordance between VDU-users' ratings of comfort and perceived exertion with experts'observations of workplace layout and working postures. Appl Ergon. 2005 May 36(3):319-25.
Wahlström J, Lindegård A, Ahlborg G Jr, Ekman A, Hagberg M. Perceived muscular tension, emotional stress, psychological demands and physical load during VDU work. Int Arch Occup Environ Health, 2003 Oct;76(8):584-90