Longitudinal Changes in Work Ability, Well-Being, and Psychosocial Risk Factors Among Older Workers: The ProAgeing Study
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Older workers experienced a decline in work ability over one year, particularly due to job demands and health issues. Interventions focusing on health and stress reduction are crucial for supporting aging employees.
Area Of Science
- Occupational Health
- Gerontology
- Workplace Psychology
Background
- Aging workforce faces challenges adapting to technological advancements and occupational risks like shift work and physically demanding tasks.
- Work ability, a key indicator of older workers' capacity to meet job demands, is influenced by physical and mental factors.
- The ProAgeing study investigated long-term work ability, perceived health, and psychosocial factors in workers over 50.
Purpose Of The Study
- To examine long-term patterns in work ability among older workers.
- To identify predictors of changes in work ability over a one-year period.
- To analyze the impact of occupational roles on work ability trends.
Main Methods
- Longitudinal study with 470 participants aged over 50, assessed at baseline and one year.
- Self-reported questionnaires included Work Ability Index (WAI), technostress, sleep quality, perceived stress, and health.
- First-difference linear regression and subgroup analyses by occupational role (bank, administrative, manual).
Main Results
- A significant decline in average WAI score (-1.2 points) was observed over 12 months, primarily linked to work demands and physical illness.
- Technostress levels decreased slightly, indicating some adaptation, but bank employees showed less favorable trends than manual workers.
- Improvements in perceived health and reduced stress positively correlated with enhanced work ability.
Conclusions
- Aging workers experience a decline in work ability, influenced by job demands and health status.
- Targeted interventions to improve health and reduce stress are essential for maintaining work ability in older employees.
- Digitalization and increased job demands disproportionately affect the well-being of older workers, especially in roles like banking.
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