scholarly journals Do good psychosocial working conditions prolong working lives? Findings from a prospective study in Sweden

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Stengård ◽  
Constanze Leineweber ◽  
Marianna Virtanen ◽  
Hugo Westerlund ◽  
Hui-Xin Wang
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Job Resources ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Work Time ◽  
Psychosocial Working Conditions ◽  
Time Control ◽  
Working Lives ◽  
Effort Reward Imbalance ◽  
Reward Imbalance

AbstractDue to an ageing population, governments in European countries are striving to keep older workers longer in the workforce. Remarkably few studies have paid attention to the influence of psychosocial working conditions on timing of retirement for older workers in and beyond normative retirement age. The aim of the present study was to examine whether good psychosocial working conditions contribute to prolonged working lives among older workers (59 years and above). A particular question was whether such conditions increase in importance with age. Seven waves (2006–2018) of the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH) were used (N = 6000, observations = 10,632). Discrete-time event history analyses showed that higher levels of job resources (decision authority [OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.06–1.22], skill use [OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.07–1.29], learning opportunities [OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.13–1.31], social support [OR 1.29 (95% CI 1.16–1.42], work-time control [OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.13], and reward [OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.24–1.57])—but not lower levels of job demands (quantitative and emotional demands or effort)—were associated with working longer (continued work two years later). Also, low effort-reward imbalance (OR 0.84 [95% CI 0.73–0.96]) was associated with working longer. In addition, skill use, work-time control, reward, and low effort-reward imbalance increased in importance with age for continued work. These results suggest that providing older workers with control over their work tasks, giving opportunities for learning and using their skills, as well as rewarding and acknowledging their achievements, may keep them in the workforce longer. Especially, job resources may grow in importance with age.

scholarly journals The Gutenberg health study: a five-year prospective analysis of psychosocial working conditions using COPSOQ (Copenhagen psychosocial Questoinnaire) and ERI (effort-reward imbalance)

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Nuebling ◽  
Janice Hegewald ◽  
Karla Romero Starke ◽  
Hans-Joachim Lincke ◽  
Sylvia Jankowiak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Prospective Analysis ◽  
Psychosocial Working Conditions ◽  
Gutenberg Health Study ◽  
Effort Reward Imbalance ◽  
Reward Imbalance

Abstract Background Psychosocial working conditions were previously analyzed using the first recruitment wave of the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) cohort (n = 5000). We aimed to confirm the initial analysis using the entire GHS population at baseline (N = 15,010) and at the five-year follow-up. We also aimed to determine the effects of psychosocial working conditions at baseline on self-rated outcomes measured at follow-up. Methods At baseline, working GHS participants were assessed with either the Effort-Reward-Imbalance questionnaire (ERI) (n = 4358) or with the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) (n = 4322); participants still working after five years received the same questionnaire again (ERI n = 3142; COPSOQ n = 3091). We analyzed the association between working conditions and the outcomes job satisfaction, general health, burnout, and satisfaction with life at baseline, at follow-up and also prospectively from baseline to follow-up using linear regression models. We examined the outcome variance explained by the models (R2) to estimate the predictive performance of the questionnaires. Results The models’ R2 was comparable to the original baseline analyses at both t0 and t1 (R2 range: ERI 0.10–0.43; COPSOQ 0.10–0.56). However, selected scales of the regression models sometimes changed between assessment times. The prospective analysis showed weaker associations between baseline working conditions and outcomes after five years (R2 range: ERI 0.07–0.19; COPSOQ 0.07–0.24). This was particularly true for job satisfaction. After adjusting for the baseline levels of the outcomes, fewer scales still explained some of the variance in the distribution of the outcome variables at follow-up. The models using only data from t0 or t1 confirmed the previous baseline analysis. We observed a loss of explained variance in the prospective analysis models. This loss was greatest for job satisfaction, suggesting that this outcome is most influenced by short-term working conditions. Conclusions Both the COPSOQ and ERI instruments show good criterion validity and adequately predict contemporaneously measured self-reported measurements of health and (occupational) well-being. However, the COPSOQ provides a more detailed picture of working conditions and might be preferable for improvment strategies in workplaces. Additional prospective research with shorter follow-up times would be beneficial for estimating dose-response relationships.

scholarly journals Stressful working conditions and poor self-rated health among financial services employees

2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz Sérgio Silva ◽  
Sandhi Maria Barreto
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Dose Response ◽  
Control Model ◽  
Response Relationship ◽  
Dose Response Relationship ◽  
Psychosocial Working Conditions ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Effort Reward Imbalance ◽  
Reward Imbalance ◽  
Demand Control

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between exposure to adverse psychosocial working conditions and poor self-rated health among bank employees. METHODS: A cross-sectional study including a sample of 2,054 employees of a government bank was conducted in 2008. Self-rated health was assessed by a single question: "In general, would you say your health is (...)." Exposure to adverse psychosocial working conditions was evaluated by the effort-reward imbalance model and the demand-control model. Information on other independent variables was obtained through a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed and odds ratio calculated to assess independent associations between adverse psychosocial working conditions and poor self-rated health. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of poor self-rated health was 9%, with no significant gender difference. Exposure to high demand and low control environment at work was associated with poor self-rated health. Employees with high effort-reward imbalance and overcommitment also reported poor self-rated health, with a dose-response relationship. Social support at work was inversely related to poor self-rated health, with a dose-response relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to adverse psychosocial work factors assessed based on the effort-reward imbalance model and the demand-control model is independently associated with poor self-rated health among the workers studied.

scholarly journals Employees’ Longer Working Lives in Europe: Drivers and Barriers in Companies

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1658
Author(s):  
Andrea Principi ◽  
Jürgen Bauknecht ◽  
Mirko Di Rosa ◽  
Marco Socci
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Early Retirement ◽  
Working Life ◽  
Retirement Age ◽  
European Level ◽  
The Public ◽  
Working Lives ◽  
Market Factors ◽  
Legal Retirement Age

This paper identifies, within companies’ sectors of activity, predictors of Human Resource (HR) policies to extend working life (EWL) in light of increasing policy efforts at the European level to extend working life. Three types of EWL practices are investigated: the prevention of early retirement (i.e., encouraging employees to continue working until the legal retirement age); delay of retirement (i.e., encouraging employees to continue working beyond the legal retirement age); and, recruitment of employees who are already retired (i.e., unretirement). A sample of 4624 European organizations that was stratified by size and sector is analyzed in six countries. The main drivers for companies’ EWL practices are the implementation of measures for older workers to improve their performance, their working conditions, and to reduce costs. In industry, the qualities and skills of older workers could be more valued than in other sectors, while the adoption of EWL practices might be less affected by external economic and labor market factors in the public sector. Dutch and Italian employers may be less prone than others to extend working lives. These results underline the importance of raising employers’ awareness and increase their actions to extend employees’ working lives by adopting age management initiatives, especially in SMEs, and in the services and public sectors.

Effort-Reward Imbalance and Intention to Retire Early in Australian Healthcare Workers

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Hodgkin ◽  
Warren Paul ◽  
Jeni Warburton
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Psychological Strain ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Effort Reward Imbalance ◽  
Reward Imbalance ◽  
Cross Sectional Design

Objectives – Retaining older workers in the Australian Healthcare System in rural areas is critical in preventing an imminent workforce crisis. Traditionally, healthcare workers have retired earlier than other groups. Using an internationally recognised model of job stress, the aim of this study was to examine the influence of Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) in predicting psychological strain and intention to retire in older Australian healthcare workers. Method – Utilising a cross-sectional design, data was obtained from 295 women and men aged over 55 years, working as professional healthcare workers in a rural Australian setting. ERI was measured using the 23-item scale developed by Siegrist (Siegrist, 2002); psychological strain was measured using the 12-item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and a question on retirement intentions was developed. Results – The results confirm that those employees who experience high ERI and higher levels of overcommitment (OVC) experience psychological strain. Support for the three-way interaction was mixed: at low levels of OVC, higher levels of effort and increasing reward decreased strain, yet at high levels of OVC, increasing reward increased strain. This study could not confirm an association between intention to retire early and effort, reward, OVC or strain.

scholarly journals Validating the short measure of the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire in older workers in the context of New Zealand

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 495-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Li ◽  
Raphael M. Herr ◽  
Joanne Allen ◽  
Christine Stephens ◽  
Fiona Alpass
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Effort Reward Imbalance ◽  
Reward Imbalance

scholarly journals Working Conditions in Primary Care: A Qualitative Interview Study with Physicians in Sweden Informed by the Effort-Reward-Imbalance Model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Per Nilsen ◽  
Hanna Fernemark ◽  
Ida Seing ◽  
Kristina Schildmeijer ◽  
Carin Ericsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Public Health Care ◽  
Qualitative Interview Study ◽  
Effort Reward Imbalance ◽  
Reward Imbalance ◽  
Eri Model

Abstract Background: Many problems with primary care physicians’ psychosocial working conditions have been documented. Many studies on working condition have used the Effort-Reward-Imbalance (ERI) model, which posits that poor health and well-being may result from imbalances between the level of effort employees perceive that they put into their work and the rewards they receive. The model has not been used in qualitative research or applied to investigate primary care physicians’ working conditions. The aim of this study was to apply the ERI model to explore the perceived efforts and rewards by primary care physicians in Sweden and approaches they take to cope with potential imbalances between these efforts and rewards.Methods: The study has a qualitative design, using semi-structured interviews. A purposeful sampling strategy was used to achieve a heterogeneous sample of primary care physicians who represented a broad spectrum of experiences and perceptions. We recruited 21 physicians; 15 were employed in public health care and 6 by private health care companies.Results: The analysis of the interviews yielded 11 sub-categories: 6 were mapped to the efforts category, 3 were attributed to the rewards category and 2 were approaches to coping with effort/reward imbalances. Many of the statements concerned efforts in the form of high workload, restricted autonomy and administrative work burden. They also perceived resource restrictions, unpredictability of work and high expectations in their role as physicians as efforts. Three reward factors emerged; the physicians found their job to be stimulating and meaningful, and the work climate to be supportive. The physicians coped with imbalances by means of job enrichment and using decisional latitude.Conclusions: This study of primary care physicians suggests a lack of reciprocity in terms of high costs and low gains, providing a plausible explanation for work stress and associated consequences that have been shown in previous primary care research. We found the ERI model to be useful to explore physicians’ primary care work and working conditions and to identify effort and reward factors as well as approaches to managing effort/reward imbalances of relevance for their job satisfaction.

scholarly journals Importance of the Working Environment for Early Retirement: Prospective Cohort Study with Register Follow-Up

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (18) ◽  
pp. 9817
Author(s):  
Emil Sundstrup ◽  
Sannie V. Thorsen ◽  
Reiner Rugulies ◽  
Mona Larsen ◽  
Kristina Thomassen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Early Retirement ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Work Demands ◽  
Psychosocial Work Factors ◽  
Psychosocial Work ◽  
Physical Work Demands ◽  
Psychosocial Working Conditions ◽  
Work Factors

Background: This study investigates the role of physical work demands and psychosocial work factors for early retirement among older workers. Methods: Data from three Danish surveys on work environment and health among employed older workers (age 55–59) were merged with a national register containing information on labour market participation. Robust Poisson regression modelled the risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between physical and psychosocial work factors and early retirement, that is, not working after the age of 64. Results: Of the 2800 workers, 53% retired early. High physical work demands (RR 1.33, 95%CI 1.19–1.48), poor overall psychosocial working conditions (RR 1.43, 95%CI 1.26–1.61), and access to early retirement benefits (RR 1.79, 95%CI 1.53–2.10) predicted early retirement. Subgroup analyses revealed that poor overall psychosocial working conditions were a stronger predictor for early retirement among workers with seated jobs than those with physically active jobs. Conclusions: High physical work demands and poor psychosocial working conditions are factors that can push older workers out of the labour market prematurely. Poor psychosocial working conditions seem to be a particularly strong push factor among workers with seated work.

scholarly journals Can favourable psychosocial working conditions in midlife moderate the risk of work exit for chronically ill workers? A 20-year follow-up of the Whitehall II study

2017 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 183-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Fleischmann ◽  
Ewan Carr ◽  
Stephen A Stansfeld ◽  
Baowen Xue ◽  
Jenny Head
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Chronically Ill ◽  
Cox Models ◽  
Psychosocial Working Conditions ◽  
Working Lives ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Work Social Support ◽  
New Diagnosis

ObjectivesTo investigate if favourable psychosocial working conditions can reduce the risk of work exit and specifically for workers with chronic disease.MethodsMen and women (32%) aged 35–55, working and having no chronic disease at baseline of the Whitehall II study of London-based civil servants were selected (n=9040). We observed participants’ exit from work through retirement, health-related exit and unemployment, new diagnosis of chronic disease (ie, coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer) and their psychosocial working conditions in midlife. Using cause-specific Cox models, we examined the association of chronic disease and favourable psychosocial working conditions and their interaction, with the three types of work exit. We adjusted for gender, occupational grade, educational level, remaining in civil service, spouse’s employment status and mental health.ResultsChronic disease significantly increased the risk of any type of work exit (HR 1.27) and specifically the risk of health-related exit (HR 2.42). High skill discretion in midlife reduced the risk of any type of work exit (HR 0.90), retirement (HR 0.91) and health-related exit (HR 0.68). High work social support in midlife decreased the risk of health-related exit (HR 0.79) and unemployment (HR 0.71). Favourable psychosocial working conditions in midlife did not attenuate the association between chronic disease and work exit significantly.ConclusionsThe chronically ill have increased risks of work exit, especially through health-related exit routes. Chronic disease is an obstacle to extended working lives. Favourable working conditions directly relate to reduced risks of work exit.

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