Table 2 Overview of the results. Main and sub-categories

Home-related demands and resources^a

Not on sick leave for home-related demands ^a

• E.g. women felt responsible for their homes, feelings of guilt; men described fewer obstacles to lowering demands on household work, less feelings of guilt

Feeling responsible for relationships and the well-being of others^a

• E.g. women took care of others and managed a web of relationships; men felt supported in taking care of social relations to support RTW

An affected economy^a

• Economically strenuous circumstances evoked feelings of shame and regret among men; women did not mention such aspects

Finding energizing activities and creating routines ^a

• Women were helped by close friends who provided valuable support in initiating outings; men did not mention such aspects

Work-related demands and resources^a

Encountering tough emotions and an over-bearing feeling of responsibility at work^a

• E.g. women within the social and health care sectors questioned their capabilities in dealing with the responsibility of their clients and the tough emotional demands when back at work; a few men worked within this sector and did not discuss such aspects as extensively

Continued work-related demands create un-certainty about the future^a

• Women felt that they were the main problem; men held managers responsible but felt resigned when no change happened

Loss of boundaries ^a

• Men described aspects of being at loss of boundaries at work

(Desired) support from managers and colleagues

Internal demands and resources^a

• E.g. women blamed themselves and doubted their capabilities; men felt they failed to live up to demands of a “strong worker”, feelings of shame

Demands and resources linked to involved actors