Pre-retirement physical working conditions and changes in physical health functioning during retirement transition process

Mänty, Minna; Kouvonen, Anne; Lallukka, Tea; Lahti, Janne; Lahelma, Eero; Rahkonen, Ossi

doi:10.5271/sjweh.3574

Cited by 12 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 35 publications

(52 reference statements)

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“…In addition to heavy physical work, occupational environment often limits employees’ physical activity and it has been suggested that sedentary work may also be associated with adverse health outcomes (Sjöström et al 2006 ; Owen et al 2010 ; van Uffelen et al 2010 ; Shrestha et al 2015 ; Mänty et al 2016 ). However, previous studies exploring the association between sedentary work and sickness absence are scarce (Laaksonen et al 2010b ; Lallukka et al 2019 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Participants were asked whether they were exposed to each condition and to what extent it bothered them with the response alternatives: “does not exist”, “exists but does not bother”, “exists and somewhat bothers” and “exists and bothers a lot”. Following the procedures used also in our previous studies (Laaksonen et al 2010b ; Mänty et al 2016 ; Halonen et al 2021 ), three broad factors were obtained by factor analysis: physical workload, sedentary work, and occupational environmental hazards. Six items loaded on the physical workload factor: uncomfortable postures, repetitive trunk rotation, repetitive movements, heavy physical work, standing and walking (Cronbach α = 0.83).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Physical working conditions and subsequent sickness absence: a record linkage follow-up study among 19–39-year-old municipal employees

Mänty

Kouvonen

Nordquist

et al. 2021

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

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Purpose Physical work exposures are associated with sickness absence among older employees. We aimed to examine if they similarly contribute to all-cause sickness absence during early and mid-careers. Methods We used questionnaire data on physical work exposures linked to register data on sickness absence from 3542 municipal employees aged 19–39 years. Follow-up for the number of sickness absence days was 12 months. Exposures to physical workload, occupational environmental hazards, and sedentary work were divided into quartiles. In addition, duration of daily exposure to heavy work was included. Negative binomial regression models were used. Results Higher exposure to physical workload or hazardous exposures was associated with a higher number of sickness absence days. The age and gender adjusted rate ratios for sickness absence days among the participants whose exposure to physical workload was in the highest exposure quartile were 2.1 (95% CI 1.8‒2.5) compared with those whose exposure was in the lowest quartile. In addition, rate ratios for sickness absence days among participants who reported that they do heavy physical work 1.1‒2.0 h, 2.1‒4.0 h or over 4 h daily were 1.6 (1.3‒1.9), 1.5 (1.3‒1.8) and 1.7 (1.5‒2.1), respectively, compared with those who reported not doing physical work. Further adjustment for lifestyle factors or health characteristics attenuated the associations only slightly. Conclusion Exposure to physically demanding work is associated with a higher number of sickness absence days among municipal employees below 40 years of age. Physical working conditions should be considered when aiming to support later work ability.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical working conditions and subsequent sickness absence: a record linkage follow-up study among 19–39-year-old municipal employees

Mänty

Kouvonen

Nordquist

et al. 2021

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

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“…For those with four or less missing items, any missing items were replaced by the sample mode of that item. Then, following our previous studies,32–34 a factor analysis was conducted, and a three-factor solution was selected: physical workload factors (loading the following items: awkward working positions, rotation of the back, repetitive movements, standing, walking and heavy physical effort or lifting and carrying) and hazardous working environment (noise, vibration, weak or disruptive lighting, solvents, gasses or irritants, warmth, coldness or changes in temperature, dryness of air, dirt, dampness or wetness, mould). The third factor comprised sedentary work/working with computer (working at monitor and using a computer mouse), but it was omitted because we focused on physical working conditions, and the third factor mainly concerns non-physical work.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Who maintains good health functioning? The contribution of social, work-related and behavioural factors to mental and physical health functioning trajectories in ageing employees

et al. 2020

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ObjectivesThe determinants of poor functioning and subsequent early exit from work are well established but very little is known about the positive determinants of maintaining good functioning among the ageing workforce. We investigated modifiable determinants of maintaining good mental and physical health functioning.MethodsWe used prospective survey data collected across four waves among the midlife employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland, 2000–2017 (n=3342). Health functioning was repeatedly measured using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) inventory. Trajectories of mental and physical health functioning were separately examined using group-based trajectory analysis. Multinomial logistic regression models were fitted to examine determinants of each trajectory.ResultsFour trajectory solutions for the developmental patterns in health functioning during the follow-up period were selected, with a slightly different shape of the first trajectory for mental and physical functioning: (1) continuously low (mental), low and decreasing (physical), (2) increasing, (3) decreasing and (4) continuously high functioning. After adjustments, the employees in the continuously high mental health functioning group were more likely to have optimal job demands, high job control, no sleep problems and no binge drinking behaviour. Employees in the continuously high physical functioning group had more likely low levels of physically strenuous work and hazardous working environment and no sleep problems and normal weight.ConclusionHigh job control, good sleep and avoiding binge drinking may help maintain good mental health functioning. Low levels of physical or environmental work exposures, good sleep and recommended healthy weight may support maintenance of good physical health functioning among ageing employees.

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“…Those who started with a high exposure to physical or hazardous work, followed by an accumulation of disadvantage, were least likely to age successfully. High physical workload, such as heavy lifting and unsuitable working postures, has been associated with lower physical function and back pain in later life [24, 25]. Experiencing increasing levels of physical demanding and hazardous working conditions across working life may cause physical damage to the body, such as musculoskeletal pain [26] and ischaemic heart disease [1] with long-term consequences for health and function.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life-course trajectories of working conditions and successful ageing

Nilsen

Darin‐Mattsson

Wastesson

2021

Scand J Public Health

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Aims: As populations are ageing worldwide, it is important to identify strategies to promote successful ageing. We investigate how working conditions throughout working life are associated with successful ageing in later life. Methods: Data from two nationally representative longitudinal Swedish surveys were linked ( n=674). In 1991, respondents were asked about their first occupation, occupations at ages 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 years and their last recorded occupation. Occupations were matched with job exposure matrices to measure working conditions at each of these time points. Random effects growth curve models were used to calculate intra-individual trajectories of working conditions. Successful ageing, operationalised using an index including social and leisure activity, cognitive and physical function and the absence of diseases, was measured at follow-up in 2014 (age 70 years and older). Multivariable ordered logistic regressions were used to assess the association between trajectories of working conditions and successful ageing. Results: Intellectually stimulating work; that is, substantive complexity, in the beginning of one’s career followed by an accumulation of more intellectually stimulating work throughout working life was associated with higher levels of successful ageing. In contrast, a history of stressful, hazardous or physically demanding work was associated with lower levels of successful ageing. Conclusions: Promoting a healthy workplace, by supporting intellectually stimulating work and reducing physically demanding and stressful jobs, may contribute to successful ageing after retirement. In particular, it appears that interventions early in one’s employment career could have positive, long-term effects.

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Pre-retirement physical working conditions and changes in physical health functioning during retirement transition process

Abstract: Retirees with higher exposure to adverse physical working conditions before retirement had lower pre- and post-retirement physical health functioning despite improvements in their functioning during the retirement transition process.

Cited by 12 publications

References 35 publications

Physical working conditions and subsequent sickness absence: a record linkage follow-up study among 19–39-year-old municipal employees

Physical working conditions and subsequent sickness absence: a record linkage follow-up study among 19–39-year-old municipal employees

Who maintains good health functioning? The contribution of social, work-related and behavioural factors to mental and physical health functioning trajectories in ageing employees

Life-course trajectories of working conditions and successful ageing

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