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A comparative analysis of the Work Ability Index.
1Institute for Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12000 Berlin, Germany. peter.martus@charite.de
Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England)
|June 25, 2010
Summary
The Work Ability Index (WAI) has a two-dimensional structure, not a single one. This finding suggests that using the total WAI score alone is insufficient for assessing work ability.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Psychometrics
- Sociology
Background:
- The Work Ability Index (WAI) is widely used to measure an individual's capacity to work.
- Previous research has yielded conflicting results regarding the underlying structure of the WAI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the dimensionality of the Work Ability Index (WAI).
- To examine the relationships between factors and subscales within the WAI.
Main Methods:
- Factor analysis was employed to investigate the psychometric properties of the WAI.
- Statistical fit was assessed using Chi-square analysis and the Comparative Fit Index.
- Data from 324 subjects across various occupations were analyzed after excluding a biased subgroup.
Main Results:
- A one-factor model and an orthogonal two-factor model did not adequately represent the data.
- A two-dimensional model with correlated factors provided a satisfactory fit.
- The two factors were interpreted as subjective work ability and objective health status.
- Only five of the seven WAI items clearly loaded onto one of the two factors.
Conclusions:
- The total score of the Work Ability Index (WAI) is inadequate for population-level analysis and individual assessment.
- A two-dimensional structure, encompassing subjective work ability and objective health, should be considered when using the WAI.
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