Changes in work situation and work ability in young female and male workers. A prospective cohort study

Abstract

BackgroundGood work ability is very important in young workers, but knowledge of work situations that influence work ability in this group is poor. The aim of this study was to assess whether changes in self-reported work factors are associated with self-reported work ability among young female and male workers.MethodsA sample of 1,311 (718 women and 593 men) was selected from a Swedish cohort of workers aged 21–25 years. At baseline and at 1-year follow-up, participants completed a self-administrated questionnaire including ratings of physical and psychosocial work factors and current work ability. Prevalence ratios were calculated to assess univariate and multivariate associations between changes in work factors and changes in work ability.ResultsDecreased job control (PR 1.7, 95% CI 1.49–2.12) and increased negative influence of job demands on private life (PR 1.5, 95% CI 1.25–1.69) were associated with reduced work ability for both female and male workers in the multivariate analyses. Among female workers, an association was found between improved work ability and increased social support at work (PR 2.4, CI 1.43–3.95). For male workers, increased job control (PR 2.3, 95% CI 1.21–4.54) and decreased negative influence of job demands on private life (PR 2.1, 95% CI 1.10–3.87) were associated with improved work ability in the multivariate analyses.ConclusionsDecreased job control and increased negative influence of job demands on private life over time seem to be the most important work factors associated with reduced work ability among young workers of both sexes. Increased social support at work, increased job control, and decreased negative influence of job demands on private life were also found to be the main work factors associated with improved work ability, although with possible gender differences.

Young workers and sustainable work life

“…Two studies found that women had an increased risk of musculoskeletal symptoms and aches, pain and numbness, compared to men (Khatun et al, 2004;Korpinen and Paakkonen 2011). Two papers assessed productivity and workability and found no gender difference among young workers (Boström et al, 2008;Boström et al, 2012). Six papers studying mental health among young workers found no gender difference in burnout/exhaustion (Dahlin et al, 2010;Hultell and Gustavsson 2011) suicidal thoughts (Tyssen et al, 2001a), work -related stress (Tyssen et al, 2005) and mental problems (Tyssen et al, 2000;Tyssen et al, 2001b).…”

Chronic Musculoskeletal Disorders as Risk Factors for Reduced Work Ability in Younger and Ageing Workers

“…These factors enhance the adverse effect of excessive mechanical burden since they increase muscle tension and hinder co-ordination of movements [11,12,13,14,15,16]. Many of those factors are also risk factors for decreased work ability [17,18,19,20].…”

Demandas psicológicas e controle do processo de trabalho de servidores de uma universidade pública

“…The lack of challenging situations that are relevant to workers can lead to decreased production of the individual and a lower capacity to produce solutions for the activities and problems faced in the daily work life 2,32 . Reducing control over work and increasing work demand negative influence on private life were the most important factors associated with reduced work capacity 33 . By associating the sociodemographic and economic variables with the DCM variables, we obtained significant associations with schooling and monthly income.…”