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Women's Occupational Patterns and Later Life Physical Functioning
Aimee J Palumbo1,2, Carolyn Cannuscio3, Anneclaire J De Roos1
1Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Journal of Aging and Health
|January 31, 2019
Summary
Women's work patterns impact later-life physical functioning. Intermittent work showed a reduced risk of physical limitations, especially for complex jobs, while early workforce exit increased risk.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sociology of Work
- Public Health
Background:
- Work-related exposures throughout life can affect health outcomes in later years.
- Understanding the long-term impact of diverse work histories on women's physical health is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between women's life course work patterns and their physical functioning in older age.
- To investigate how different work participation trajectories influence physical limitations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study (N=75,507) including women aged 50-79.
- Employed latent class analysis to identify distinct life course workforce participation patterns.
- Applied modified Poisson regression to assess the relationship between work patterns and physical limitations.
Main Results:
- Compared to continuous employment, early workforce exit was linked to an 8% increased risk of physical limitations.
- Intermittent workforce participation was associated with a 5% reduced risk of physical limitations.
- This protective effect of intermittent work was more pronounced for women in substantively complex jobs (9% reduced risk) versus nonsubstantively complex jobs (2% reduced risk).
Conclusions:
- Life course work patterns, including timing and intermittency, are significant factors in women's physical functioning.
- The complexity of work may modify the relationship between work patterns and later-life physical health outcomes.