Predictors of Having Paid Work in Older Workers With and Without Chronic Disease: A 3-Year Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Background As the prevalence of chronic disease amongst older workers is high and increasing, it is important to know if the large subgroup of older workers with chronic disease has specific needs when it comes to prolonging participation in paid work. Objectives To investigate differences and similarities in predictors of having paid work in workers aged 55? with and without chronic disease. Methods Workers aged 55-62 years were selected from the 2002-2003 cohort of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (n = 333). Potential predictors were: health, personality, work characteristics, and demographics. Per potential predictor, a logistic regression coefficient for 'having paid work in 2005-2006' was calculated for workers with and without chronic disease. A pooled estimate was computed and differences between the pooled estimate and the coefficients were tested. Results Follow-up data were available for 95 %, of whom 67 % still had paid work. Predictors of having paid work were similar for workers with and without chronic diseases, except for physical workload (v 2 = 5.37; DF = 1) and psychosocial resources at work (v 2 = 5.94; DF = 1). Having more psychosocial resources (OR = 3.57; 95 %CI 1.33-10.0) was predictive for having paid work in workers with chronic disease and not in workers without chronic disease. Lower age, more weekly working hours, no functional limitations, fewer depressive symptoms, lower neuroticism scores, and more sense of mastery were significantly associated with having paid work in all workers. Conclusions Differences between predictors of having paid work between workers with and without chronic disease should be taken into account when aiming to prevent exit from the workforce. In particular the vulnerable subgroup of older workers with chronic disease and low psychosocial resources at work is more likely to quit working.

An examination of the role of psychological safety in the relationship between job resources, affective commitment and turnover intentions of Australian employees with chronic illness

“…Differences have been found in predictors of having paid employment between employees with and without chronic illness, including the availability of job resources such as psychosocial support (Boot et al, 2014). Within the context of the JD-R model, Boot et al suggest that having a chronic illness triggers an imbalance between job demands and job resources that may lead to job strain and early exit from employment.…”

“…The chronically ill have a higher turnover rate than employees in general, even when the impact of health-related impairments are taken into account (Kirk-Brown, Van Dijk, Simmons, Bourne, & Cooper, 2014;Roessler, Turner, Robertson, & Rumrill, 2005). The employment rate for people with chronic illness in OECD countries, for example is reported as 40% below the general employment rate (Boot et al, 2014). Current literature helps us understand the impact of job demands and resources on the turnover intentions of employees in general; however, this literature does not explain the higher turnover rates found for employees with chronic illness.…”

The influence of chronic health problems and work-related factors on loss of paid employment among older workers

“…Several studies have reported that work-related factors may directly influence exit from the workforce 9–12. Recent findings show that among workers with chronic health problems, favourable psychosocial resources relate to remaining in employment and reducing sickness absence 13 14. In the current study, we will determine whether work-related factors modify the influence of health on early exit from the workforce via disability benefits, unemployment and early retirement.…”

Employment status transitions in employees with and without chronic disease in the Netherlands

“…About 28% of Europeans report having a chronic health problem or illness (Corral et al 2014), while in the USA, half of the population of working-age adults have chronic health care needs (Gulley et al 2011). The prevalence of working-age people with a chronic disease is expected to grow further in most industrialized countries because of an ageing population, continued improvements in treatment and recent legislations in many countries to raise the retirement age (Boot et al 2014). …”