Questionnaire on Labour and Reintegration / Work and Wellbeing Inventory

Abstract

The Vragenlijst Arbeid en Re-integratie (VAR), or Work and Wellbeing Inventory, is a specialized psychological instrument designed to measure psychosocial risks that contribute to long-term absence from work. Originally developed in 2005 and revised in 2015 (VAR-2), the scale functions as a screening tool to identify risk factors at the critical intersection of labor, health, and overall well-being. Its primary clinical utility lies in predicting the duration and complexity of work absence.

The updated VAR-2 specifically maps the dynamic relationship between workplace stressors (problems) and the countervailing force of social support available to the individual. It also assesses the individual’s coping strategies and how a potential disbalance between demands and resources leads to the development of specific symptoms. Critically, a high score on any given subscale is interpreted as an indication of an increased risk for prolonged or problematic work absence.

Keywords

Work and Wellbeing Inventory, Vragenlijst Arbeid en Re-integratie, VAR, VAR-2, psychosocial risks, long-term absence, work reintegration, stress management, social support, screening instrument, occupational health.

Authors

VAR: Vendrig AA (2005), VAR-2: Vendrig AA (2015)

Purpose

The principal purpose of the VAR is to serve as a high-utility screening instrument for identifying individuals at risk of developing long-term or recurring work absence due to psychosocial factors. It provides occupational health professionals and reintegration specialists with a structured method for mapping complex risk profiles.

By quantifying the interplay between demanding work conditions and personal resources, the VAR aims to facilitate early intervention strategies. The ultimate goal is to predict the likely duration of absence, allowing for targeted and timely reintegration efforts, thereby mitigating the personal and organizational costs associated with chronic work disability.

Construct

The VAR-2 measures a multifaceted construct centered on the stressor-support imbalance model in the work context. The core psychological construct assessed is the vulnerability to work absence driven by the interaction between work demands and personal/social coping resources.

Specifically, the instrument captures three main domains: 1) Stressors and Problems (occupational demands, workload, conflict); 2) Social Support and Resources (support from colleagues, supervisors, or personal network); and 3) Symptom Development and Coping (the individual’s response to the imbalance, often manifesting as mental or physical health symptoms). The scale operationalizes the concept that a significant disparity between high stressors and low support directly increases the probability of problematic absence.

Validity

While specific psychometric data detailing criterion and construct validity were not provided in the source material, the VAR is designed specifically to possess strong predictive validity regarding the duration of work absence. Its revision (VAR-2 in 2015) suggests ongoing efforts to ensure the instrument remains current and robust in capturing modern workplace psychosocial risks.

The instrument’s foundation rests on established models linking work environment factors (stressors) to health outcomes (symptoms). High scores are considered valid indicators of increased risk, suggesting that the items successfully measure the intended constructs of occupational stress and inadequate resource availability relevant to successful reintegration.

Reliability

Information regarding the internal consistency (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha) or test-retest reliability for the VAR and VAR-2 is not specified in the initial description. However, as a professional screening tool used in occupational health settings, it is assumed that the instrument has undergone rigorous testing to ensure reliable measurement across its various subscales addressing stressors, support, and symptoms.

The structured nature of the questionnaire format (Vragenlijst) typically supports high internal consistency, particularly within scales that assess specific, correlated symptom clusters related to work impairment and mental functions.

Factor Analysis

Details concerning the specific factor structure resulting from exploratory or confirmatory factor analysis (EFA/CFA) of the VAR or VAR-2 are not provided in the source description. Given the instrument’s focus on distinct domains—stressors, social support, and symptoms—it is highly probable that the scale utilizes a multi-factor structure designed to differentiate these critical components of work wellbeing.

The factor analysis likely confirms the distinct separation between the factors representing external demands (workload, organizational issues) and internal resources (coping mechanisms, perceived social support), which is central to predicting vulnerability to prolonged work absence.

Instrument

Test Type: Questionnaire (Vragenlijst)

Format: Self-report screening instrument

Language Available: Dutch (Original language of publication)

Population Group: Adults (Volwassenen)

Age Group: Working age adults (Typically 18-65)

Population Details: Employees or individuals undergoing reintegration processes following work absence.

Test Methodology: The instrument uses a fixed-response format (Likert-type or similar) to quantify the severity of reported stressors, the adequacy of available support, and the presence of related symptoms. Scores are aggregated across scales to produce a risk profile for long-term absence.

Keywords

Occupational psychology, work disability, reintegration, psychosocial risk assessment, screening, mental functions, health outcomes, stressor-support model, predictive screening, organizational health.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not specified in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not specified in source content.

Correspondence Address: Not specified in source content.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The original VAR was published in 2005 by Vendrig AA. The revised and current version, VAR-2, was published in 2015. Information regarding specific licensing fees or permissions required for clinical or research use is not provided in the source material and must be sought directly from the copyright holder.

The original explanation form (Toelichtingsformulier) for the VAR-2 is available for download. The original PDF can be downloaded here: Toelichtingsformulier (Explanation Form).

Reference’s

• Vendrig AA (2005). Vragenlijst Arbeid en Re-integratie (VAR).
• Vendrig AA (2015). Vragenlijst Arbeid en Re-integratie, Second Edition (VAR-2).

Items of the Vragenlijst Arbeid en Re-integratie / Work and Wellbeing Inventory

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

The specific items comprising the Vragenlijst Arbeid en Re-integratie (VAR/VAR-2) were not included in the source content provided.