Chronological and subjective age in relation to work demands: survey of Croatian workers

The aim of the study was to investigate chronological and subjective age and gender differences in terms of the physical, mental, and social demands of work. Subjects, 88 women and 25 men, were workers in a medical setting who completed the Survey of Health Care Professionals. Subjects' reports of effort required by their work, tiredness resulting from their work, and personal skills needed to complete their work were used to assess the physical, mental, and social demands of work. Subjective age measures included cognitive age, desired age, and comparative age. Results showed that, compared to men, women reported being more tense as a result of the work. Age differences were found in the physical and mental skills required by the work. Older workers had lower estimates of their own skills than younger workers. Three measures of subjective age showed different patterns of relationships with aspects of work demands.