Effects of psychosocial work factors and psychological distress on self-assessed work ability: A 7-year follow-up in a general working population

Aims: Psychological distress is a global public health concern with individual and societal implications causing work-related disability and loss of productivity. It is less known how much work ability contributes to the development of psychological distress. This study aimed to assess the association between self-perceived physical and mental work ability in relation to job demands, and the incidence of psychological distress in a Swedish working population. Methods: Data were obtained from three subsamples of the Stockholm Public Health Cohort with baseline in 2010 and follow-up in 2014, based on a working population in Stockholm County aged 18–60 years, with no or mild psychological distress at baseline ( n=29,882). Self-perceived physical and mental work ability in relation to job demands were assessed at baseline with a subscale from the Work Ability Index. Study participants scoring 4 or more on the General Health Questionnaire 12 at follow-up were classified as having developed psychological distress during the study period. Poisson log linear regression was used to calculate crude and adjusted rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results: At follow-up, 2543 participants (12%) had developed psychological distress. Reporting poor physical and/or poor mental work ability in relation to job demands at baseline was associated with an almost doubled rate ratio of psychological distress at follow-up, compared to reporting good work ability (rate ratio 1.8; 95% confidence interval 1.6–2.0). Conclusions: Poor work ability is associated with a higher incidence of future psychological distress compared to good work ability.

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Changes in psychosocial work factors in the French working population between 2006 and 2010

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health ◽

10.1007/s00420-014-0953-6 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 88 (2) ◽

pp. 235-246 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Lucile Malard ◽

Jean-François Chastang ◽

Isabelle Niedhammer

Keyword(s):

Psychosocial Work Factors ◽

Psychosocial Work ◽

Working Population ◽

Work Factors

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Older working adults in the HEAF study are more likely to report loneliness after two years of follow-up if they have negative perceptions of their work quality

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10610-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Gregorio Bevilacqua ◽

Stefania D’Angelo ◽

Georgia Ntani ◽

Holly Emma Syddall ◽

Elizabeth Clare Harris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Large Population ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Psychosocial Work Factors ◽

Psychosocial Work ◽

Mortality And Morbidity ◽

Working Adults ◽

Work Factors ◽

Negative Perceptions

Abstract Background Loneliness is an important public health issue associated with mortality and morbidity. Often researched amongst older people, less is known about risk factors for loneliness among adults aged 50–64 years who are in work. We investigated (a) if exit from the workforce increases the odds of loneliness; (b) whether adverse psychosocial work factors are associated with increased odds of loneliness over 2 years of follow-up; and (c) whether the association is stronger among subjects still working compared with those who have exited the workforce. Methods Data came from the Health and Employment After Fifty (HEAF) study, a large population cohort who provided questionnaire information about work and health at baseline and 2 annual follow-ups. Logistic regression was used to explore the association between psychosocial risk factors and loneliness at follow-up 2, with adjustment for loneliness at baseline, sex, age, self-rated health, living alone, and mental health diagnosis. Results Of the initial 8134 participants, 4521 were working at baseline and provided data for this analysis. Of those, 507 (11.2%) were defined as lonely at 2 years’ follow-up. Exiting the workforce was not significantly associated with loneliness (OR = 1.1, 95%CI: 0.7–1.7). However, negative psychosocial work factors predicted loneliness at follow-up. After mutual adjustment, lack of choice at work (OR: 1.5, 95%CI: 1.1–1.9), often lying awake worrying about work (OR: 1.4, 95%CI: 1.0–1.9) and perceived not coping with physical demands of the job (OR: 1.3, 95%CI: 1.0–1.7) were independent predictors, with associations robust to adjustment for demographic factors and health. Associations were only slightly altered when we restricted the sample to those who remained in work until the end of follow-up. Conclusions Loneliness amongst middle-aged working adults is not predicted by permanent work exit but is predicted by individuals’ perceptions about their work. Provision of good-quality work, matched to the capacity of the older worker, could prevent loneliness.

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