scholarly journals Is working in later life good for your health? A systematic review of health outcomes resulting from extended working lives

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Baxter ◽  
Lindsay Blank ◽  
Anna Cantrell ◽  
Elizabeth Goyder

Abstract Background Work, rather than unemployment, is recognised as being good for health, but there may be an age when the benefits are outweighed by adverse impacts. As countries around the world increase their typical retirement age, the potential effect on population health and health inequalities requires scrutiny. Methods We carried out a systematic review of literature published since 2011 from developed countries on the health effects of employment in those over 64 years of age. We completed a narrative synthesis and used harvest plots to map the direction and volume of evidence for the outcomes reported. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) checklist in our methods and reporting. Results We identified seventeen relevant studies, which were of cohort or cross-sectional design. The results indicate evidence of beneficial or neutral effects from extended working on overall health status and physical health for many employees, and mixed effects on mental health. The benefits reported however, are most likely to be for males, those working part-time or reducing to part-time, and employees in jobs which are not low quality or low reward. Conclusions Extending working life (particularly part time) may have benefits or a neutral effect for some, but adverse effects for others in high demand or low reward jobs. There is the potential for widening health inequalities between those who can choose to reduce their working hours, and those who need to continue working full time for financial reasons. There is a lack of evidence for effects on quality of life, and a dearth of interventions enabling older workers to extend their healthy working life.

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 629-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRIS PHILLIPSON

ABSTRACTResearch on older workers and retirement has yet to adjust fully to an environment influenced by a combination of demographic change, technological developments and economic recession. A key dimension to the changing relationship between ageing and work is the tension between policies to extend working life and the increasingly fragmented nature of late working life, with the emergence of varied transitions, including: bridge employment, second/third careers, part-time working, early retirement and other variations. These developments indicate both the challenge of conceptualising new forms of work-ending, and – in policy terms – the extent to which these can successfully accommodate longer working lives. The paper provides a critical perspective to the policy of extending working life and the narrative which underpins this approach. The paper argues that retirement has become a ‘contested’ institution in the 21st century, fragmented across different pathways and transitions affecting people in their fifties and sixties. The paper argues the case for improving work quality and security as a precondition for supporting policies for encouraging working in later life. An essential requirement for this will include linking debates on extending working life with technological developments and changes affecting the workplace, creating differentiated paths to retirement and labour force exit, enhancing the provision of training and continuing education, and re-thinking the idea of the ‘older worker’.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-38
Author(s):  
David S. Pedulla ◽  
Michael J. Donnelly

Abstract The social and economic forces that shape attitudes toward the welfare state are of central concern to social scientists. Scholarship in this area has paid limited attention to how working part-time, the employment status of nearly 20% of the U.S. workforce, affects redistribution preferences. In this article, we theoretically develop and empirically test an argument about the ways that part-time work, and its relationship to gender, shape redistribution preferences. We articulate two gender-differentiated pathways—one material and one about threats to social status—through which part-time work and gender may jointly shape individuals’ preferences for redistribution. We test our argument using cross-sectional and panel data from the General Social Survey in the United States. We find that the positive relationship between part-time employment, compared to full-time employment, and redistribution preferences is stronger for men than for women. Indeed, we do not detect a relationship between part-time work and redistribution preferences among women. Our results provide support for a gendered relationship between part-time employment and redistribution preferences and demonstrate that both material and status-based mechanisms shape this association.


Author(s):  
Siu-Ling Chan ◽  
Naomi Takemura ◽  
Pui-Hing Chau ◽  
Chia-Chin Lin ◽  
Man-Ping Wang

Frontline nurses face an unpreceded situation with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and many report suffering from physical and psychological stress. This online, cross-sectional survey used questionnaires, such as the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2), the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, stress-related questions, and Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief-COPE), to determine the psychological impact of COVID-19 on licensed full-time practicing nurses undertaking part-time studies in higher education. Recruitment commenced from August to September 2020; 385 students were approached, and 124 completed the survey (response rate: 32%). Most of the respondents were frontline nurses working in public sectors (89.5%), 29% of whom reported symptoms of depression, and 61.3% reported mild to severe levels of anxiety. The GAD-7 was significantly associated with the resilience score (β = −0.188; p = 0.008) and exhaustion (β = 0.612; p < 0.001). The PHQ-2 was significantly associated with ‘anxiety about infection’ (β = 0.071; p = 0.048). A lower anxiety level was significantly associated with a higher resilience level and a lower level of exhaustion, and a lower depression level was significantly associated with a lower anxiety about infection. Nursing programs incorporating resilience building may mitigate psychological distress of the study population.


AAOHN Journal ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 112-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila T. Fitzgerald ◽  
Mary H. Palmer ◽  
Susan J. Berry ◽  
Kristin Hart

Until recently, the impact of urinary incontinence (UI) on working women, a population generally characterized as healthy, has not been the focus of research. Women employed full time at a large university center participated in a cross sectional survey about UI. Of the 1,113 women surveyed, age 18 and older, 21 % (n = 232) reported UI at least monthly. Incontinent women were significantly older and had a higher body mass index than continent women. Using disposable products, limiting fluids, avoiding caffeinated beverages, using voiding schedules, and keeping extra clothes or underwear were strategies used to manage UI at work. Responses to an open ended question related to the impact of UI on working life included: interference with sleep and resulting fatigue at work, embarrassment, alteration of concentration, and emotional distress. Implications for nurses are discussed in relation to assessment, education, and management of UI in the occupational setting.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 5518-5518
Author(s):  
David H. Henry ◽  
Shawn M. Wade ◽  
Mariana Servin ◽  
William Hershfield

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The time incurred in seeking care for the treatment of side effects of chemotherapy (CT) or radiotherapy (RT) can result in lost productivity and resulting lost wages for cancer patients (pts) and their caregivers. The purpose of this study was to assess the amount of time spent by pts and caregivers to seek treatment for side effects of CT/RT and to examine productivity losses associated with such visits. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from April to May 2006 using a random sample of pts from a chronic illness panel of 550,233 pts. Inclusion criteria were being at least 18 years of age, diagnosed with cancer, and receiving CT and/or RT either currently or during the 12 months prior to participating in the study. Percentages and means were used to calculate descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 1,569 cancer pts were surveyed: 1,302 pts online and 267 pts by telephone. No significant differences were found between phone and online respondents. Of the pts currently receiving CT and/or RT (N=814), a total of 249 pts received treatment for side effects of CT/RT. The total time spent per visit to receive treatment for side-effects of CT/RT was approximately 5 hrs/visit including preparation time, travel time, and time spent at the clinic. Approximately one-half (54%) of the 249 patients currently receiving treatment for side effects of CT/RT were employed full-time (44%) or part-time (10%). Among employed patients currently receiving treatment for side effects of CT/RT, the mean number of work days missed as a result of visits for the treatment of CT/RT related side effects was 20 days per year. The primary reason for continuing to work during cancer treatment was financial need, reported by 59% of patients. Approximately 83% of all patients indicated that a caregiver generally accompanied them on their visits to the doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital to receive treatment for side effects of CT/RT. Seven out of ten caregivers (68%) were reported as being employed either full-time (62%) or part-time (6%). CONCLUSIONS: Time related burden for patients receiving treatment for side effects of CT/RT and their caregivers is significant. Reduction in frequency of such visits is important from the standpoint of patients’ economic livelihood and can stand to benefit employers and society. Table 1. Time Spent on Healthcare Provider Visits for Treatment of Side Effects Related to Chemotherapy and/or Radiation (N=249) Activity (per visit) Minutes Spent (mean) Standard Deviation Minutes Spent (median) Preparing to go to the doctor’s office, clinic or hospital 81 127 55 Travel to and from the doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital 102 188 58 Waiting at the doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital to see the doctor or another healthcare professional 64 72 39 Seeing the doctor or another healthcare professional 64 75 43 Total 311 380 210


10.28945/4467 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 057-074
Author(s):  
Hyrine Mueni Matheka ◽  
Ellen E.P.W.A. Jansen ◽  
Adriaan W.H.A Hofman

Aim/Purpose: Kenya plans to be a middle-income country by the year 2030. To achieve this development target, the country has rapidly expanded its university sub-sector in order to produce the requisite skilled professionals. This has put a strain on the available PhD holders thus heightening the pressure on universities to produce more PhD graduates to meet the required larger pool of highly qualified professionals to service the academia and other sectors of the economy. However, the PhD graduation rate per year is very low and unexplained. This study sought to explain the factors influencing PhD success rates in Kenyan universities. Background: This cross-sectional study set out to establish how PhD students’ background and program characteristics are related to their success. This knowledge will inform policies and strategies to enhance PhD training and success in Kenya. Methodology: Data on 1,992 PhD students was collected from 10 universities by using the Microsoft Excel data tool to collect administrative data. The researchers utilized the data collection to construct a quantitative research design. The PhD students were enrolled in the following program domains/clusters: Humanities and Social Sciences, Business and Economics, Physical and Life Sciences, Applied Sciences and Medical Sciences. Contribution: PhD success factors have been extensively studied in developed countries. This paper builds on this body of knowledge with a specific focus on developing countries like Kenya. Findings: Students’ background characteristics (age, nationality, gender, financial support and marital statuses) were not related to PhD students’ success, however, full-time employed PhD students had better progression than their part-time colleagues. Program characteristics (program cluster and mode of study) were significantly related to students’ success. Students who had delayed for two years or more years had limited chance to graduate. Recommendations for Practitioners: To improve the PhD education system, practitioners should endeavor to monitor and track the progress of their PhD students. To do this, the researchers recommend that the universities collect and keep good records of these types of data. Universities should come up with strategies to build on or mitigate against the factors that have been identified to influence PhD success. Recommendation for Researchers: The researchers recommend further research, especially in developing countries, to understand the PhD study systems and inform effective interventions. Impact on Society: To identify, conceptualize or mitigate against the factors which influence PhD success lead to higher success in PhD training in order to enhance knowledge to solve societal problems. Future Research: Further research is recommended especially in the context of developing countries to establish how supervisor–student interactions, availability of infrastructural resources, and students’ motivation, efficacy and well-being relate to PhD success in Kenyan universities


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (Special1) ◽  
pp. 311-317
Author(s):  
Siti Munira Yasin ◽  
Aishah Zubillah ◽  
Siti Aishah Shamsuri ◽  
Muhammad Shahril Izwan ◽  
Muhammad Aizat Mohamad Azli ◽  
...  

Most available data on the prevalence and characteristics of low back pain (LBP) are reported in developed countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of LBP and potential risk factors among a group of workers in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 170 workers in a fertilizer company in Malaysia. The sample comprised both blue- and white-collar workers. A set of questionnaires consisting of sociodemographic items, the NORDIC musculoskeletal questionnaire and the Dutch Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used for this study. The main analysis conducted was a multivariate logistic regression. Results showed that a total of 40% of workers experienced LBP. Compared to workers younger than 30 years of age, the risk of LBP was 8 times higher among those over 50 years of age. In addition, workers who were moderately stressed at work had a risk of LBP that was almost five times higher, and workers who did not have awkward posture for a long period of time had an 80% lower risk of LBP. In a multivariate logistic regression, after adjusting for sociodemographic variables, it was found that less repetitive work, shorter sustained positions and less frequent lifting of heavy objects prevented LBP. After the final adjustment including all other variables, only engaging in repetitive work was associated with LBP. In conclusion, each workplace should ensure that older workers, especially those who are working in stressful environments, are prevented from engaging in repetitive work, sustaining prolonged awkward postures and lifting heavy objects.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 65-65
Author(s):  
Andreas Motel-Klingebiel ◽  
Jolanta Perek-Białas ◽  
Indre Genelyte ◽  
Susanne Kelfve

Abstract The labour market activity of older workers and their ability and disposition to maintain it depend on institutional conditions, age norms, labour demand and shifting overall economic conditions. The paper discusses exclusion and inequality in later working life from a European comparative perspective and emphasises shifts in late work and retirement patterns as well as later-life outcomes in Sweden and Poland. An emphasis is on changing institutional conditions on the national and branch level. Gendered risks for economic exclusion and later life precarity are stressed. Analyses for the two countries are contrasted with Germany and the UK. The analyses are part of the research program ‘Exclusion and Inequality in Late Working Life: Evidence for Policy Innovation Towards Inclusive Extended Work and Sustainable Working Conditions in Sweden and Europe – EIWO’ (2019-24). Analyses use data from SHARE and EU-SILC and address older workers of age 60 and older in Sweden, Poland, German and the UK. They find increasingly heterogeneous preretirement and transition patterns, new gender gaps and increasing risks of economic exclusion in retirement. Situations differ between countries with the prolongation of late working life in Sweden having a mostly positive effect on gender inequalities with low education and specific migrant groups as an exception. Poland is specific case due to unequally low retirement age for woman (60) and for men (65) with consequently large structural gender differences and increases in the process of increasing labour force participation of older workers and increasingly gendered risks for old-age economic exclusion.


Author(s):  
Cheryl Haslam ◽  
Myanna Duncan ◽  
Aadil Kazi ◽  
Ricardo Twumasi ◽  
Stacy Clemes ◽  
...  

This chapter discusses the Working Late research project, which investigated the practice and policy issues associated with later life working. This multidisciplinary research project explored later life working across three main themes: employment context, occupational health context and the work environment. The Working Late research was underpinned by active engagement with agencies, employers and older workers to guide the research process and deliver effective and wide ranging dissemination of the findings. The project developed and evaluated new interventions, resources and design solutions to promote health and quality of working life across the life course.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 667-676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muzi Na ◽  
Nan Dou ◽  
Naiwen Ji ◽  
Dixin Xie ◽  
Jie Huang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Food insecurity (FI) may limit cognitive functioning during aging. The goal of this systematic review was to summarize existing evidence linking FI and general or specific cognitive functions in middle and older adulthood. A systematic search of human studies published between 1 January 2000 and 30 April 2018 was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, and CAB Direct. Four independent reviewers assessed the eligibility of identified articles and conducted data extraction and data quality assessment. Ten studies were included in the review, including 1 cluster-randomized controlled trial, 2 longitudinal studies, and 7 cross-sectional studies. Three studies reported the association between early-life FI experience and a global cognitive function measure. Nine studies reported later-life FI experience in relation to global or specific cognitive functions. The results suggest an adverse association between FI experienced in early or later life and global cognitive function; and between later-life FI and executive function and memory. Findings from the review are preliminary because of sparse data, heterogeneity across study populations, exposure and outcome assessments, and potential risk of bias across studies. Future studies are recommended to better understand the role of FI in cognitive function, with the goal of identifying possible critical windows for correction of FI in vulnerable subpopulations to prevent neurocognitive deficit in adulthood.


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