The Interplay between Job Control, SOC Strategies, and Age in Sustaining Work Ability in a Sample of Administrative Employees

Abstract

In recent years, the average age of workers has risen. Because of that, work ability is reducing in many sectors, especially in a public context. Given the above, it is necessary to investigate the individual and organisational resources that can play a role in the protection of work ability. This study investigates the work ability of administrative workers, examines selection, optimisation, and compensation (SOC) as a form of mediation between job control and work ability, and explores the relationship of job control, age, work ability, and SOC strategies via moderated mediation models. The findings indicate that job control, SOC strategies, and age correlate to work ability, but the effect of these factors is different. Job control and SOC strategies are positively related to work ability, and job control positively relates to the use of optimisation and compensation. However, only optimisation and compensation strategies mediate the association between job control and work ability. Finally, age moderates the effect of job control on work ability. The findings suggest that interventions, such as SOC training, promotion, and job control, may help to sustain work ability among elderly administrative workers.

Striving for Being in the Line of Life: Personal Active Ageing Strategies among Iranian Elder

“…According to Kahana and Kahana model, preventive strategies are applied to reduce threats, to avoid negative consequences and control change (Kahana & Kahana, 2001). It is consistent with the preventive strategies of the SOC model that seek to acquire resources for achieving life goals (Sottimano, Guidetti, Viotti, & Converso, 2019). These behaviors represent conscious selection and are influenced by social factors (Brojeni, Ilali, Taraghi, & Mousavinasab, 2019;Monfared et al, 2019).…”

Health Resources and Well-Being in Optimal Aging: The Mediating Role of Selection, Optimization, and Compensation Strategies

“…Our findings were consistent with SOC theory and COR theory. When old employees effectively used limited personal resources through SOC, they could still complete the job requirements [33]. Moreover, employees with more resources at work were more capable of using their own coping strategies to maximize work-related resources and create favorable working conditions for individuals [65,66].…”

“…Zhang and Radhakrishnan [17] reviewed 19 articles on the use and effect of SOC in patients with chronic diseases and found that SOC can improve symptoms and bring about subjective well-being. In addition, researchers have proved that using SOC strategies predicts well-being [33]. Despite the decline in physical function, the elderly who operated at a high SOC had a higher well-being, while the elderly with a low SOC had a lower well-being despite higher physical function [13].…”

“…Resource investment has been examined in the context of coping, where several studies have suggested that coping implicates resource investment to restrict resource depletion in the future [20]. For instance, Sottimano et al [33] proposed that SOC strategies could assist older employees to deal with health-related decline due to age, and SOC training and promotion used as interventions might help administrative employees maintain their ability to work.…”

“…SOC theory by Baltes and Baltes (1990) was applied to a set of strategies to counteract resource loss with aging, even though aging may not affect all human beings equally [21]. Researchers have found that SOC strategies may increase resources [33], and help maintain function in the face of challenges [34]. Individuals used the SOC strategies to adapt to changes in development and aging [35].…”