Psychosocial working conditions and cognitive and physical impairment in older age

Psychosocial working conditions are associated with cognitive and physical impairments. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between mid-late life psychosocial working conditions and the combination of physical and cognitive impairment among older adults, and the potential sex differences in these associations.

Data were derived from two Swedish nationally representative surveys (n = 839; follow-up: 20-24 years). Multinomial and binary logistic regressions assessed the associations between work stressors (job demand-control model), and a combination of cognitive and physical impairment.

Low control jobs were significantly associated with higher odds of cognitive (OR: 1.41, CI: 1.15-1.72) and physical impairment (OR: 1.23, CI: 1.02-1.47), and cognitive and physical impairment combined (OR: 1.50, CI: 1.19-1.89). Passive jobs (low control, low demand) were associated with higher odds of cognitive impairment (OR: 1.57, CI: 1.12-2.20), and combined cognitive and physical impairment (OR: 1.59, CI: 1.07-2.36). Active jobs (high control, high demand) were associated with lower odds of cognitive impairment (OR: 0.48, CI: 0.29-0.80). Sex-stratified analyses showed stronger associations among men; passive jobs were associated with both cognitive (OR: 2.18, CI: 1.31-3.63) and physical impairment (OR: 1.78, CI: 1.13-2.81), while low strain jobs were associated with less physical impairment (OR: 0.55, CI: 0.33-0.89). No significant associations between work stressors and impairment were found for women.

These results highlight the importance of psychosocial working conditions for late-life physical and cognitive impairment, especially among men. Jobs characterised by low control and low demands are associated with higher risk for impairments.