Do psychosocial working conditions contribute to healthy and active aging? Studies of mortality, late-life health, and leisure
Author: Nilsen, Charlotta
Date: 2018-01-19
Location: CMB-salen, Berzelius väg 21, Karolinska Institutet, Solna
Time: 13:00
Department: Inst för neurobiologi, vårdvetenskap och samhälle / Dept of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society
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Thesis (908.8Kb)
Abstract
The growing demographic challenge posed by an aging population makes finding predictors
of health in old age increasingly important. This thesis investigated long-term associations
between midlife psychosocial working conditions and late-life health and leisure and
examined whether sense of coherence in midlife modified the association between
psychosocial working conditions and all-cause mortality. The studies were based on
individually linked data from the Swedish Cause of Death Register and two Swedish
longitudinal surveys, the Level of Living Survey (LNU) and the Swedish Panel Study of
Living Conditions of the Oldest Old (SWEOLD).
The results of Study I and Study II suggest that self-reported adverse psychosocial working conditions in late midlife, especially low job control, high strain, or passive jobs, were associated with complex health problems and limitations in physical functioning 20-24 years later. However, women and men seemed to be vulnerable to different self-reported psychosocial working conditions. High job strain (high psychological demands and low control) was more negative for women than men. Passive jobs (low psychological demands and low control) were negative for men but not for women.
The results of Study III suggest that a weak sense of coherence magnified the association between occupation-based (measured with a job exposure matrix) high job strain in midlife and mortality in women and men and self-reported passive jobs in midlife and mortality in men.
The results of Study IV suggest that occupation-based active jobs (high psychological demands and high control) in midlife were associated with physical, social, and intellectual/cultural activity 23 years later in women and men.
In summary, the results underscore the importance of psychosocial working conditions in midlife for health, physical functioning, and leisure activity after retirement²and thus for healthy and active aging. It is therefore important to reduce stress at work but at the same time induce intellectual stimulation and personal growth. Moreover, it is important to find ways to strengthen sense of coherence in midlife to buffer the negative influence of adverse psychosocial working conditions on health. Investing in healthy workplaces and strengthening sense of coherence to improve the health of workers may reduce societal costs during working age. It may also lower the cost of health and social care by improving the health of the older population. Hence, it would be a double-win investment for society.
The results of Study I and Study II suggest that self-reported adverse psychosocial working conditions in late midlife, especially low job control, high strain, or passive jobs, were associated with complex health problems and limitations in physical functioning 20-24 years later. However, women and men seemed to be vulnerable to different self-reported psychosocial working conditions. High job strain (high psychological demands and low control) was more negative for women than men. Passive jobs (low psychological demands and low control) were negative for men but not for women.
The results of Study III suggest that a weak sense of coherence magnified the association between occupation-based (measured with a job exposure matrix) high job strain in midlife and mortality in women and men and self-reported passive jobs in midlife and mortality in men.
The results of Study IV suggest that occupation-based active jobs (high psychological demands and high control) in midlife were associated with physical, social, and intellectual/cultural activity 23 years later in women and men.
In summary, the results underscore the importance of psychosocial working conditions in midlife for health, physical functioning, and leisure activity after retirement²and thus for healthy and active aging. It is therefore important to reduce stress at work but at the same time induce intellectual stimulation and personal growth. Moreover, it is important to find ways to strengthen sense of coherence in midlife to buffer the negative influence of adverse psychosocial working conditions on health. Investing in healthy workplaces and strengthening sense of coherence to improve the health of workers may reduce societal costs during working age. It may also lower the cost of health and social care by improving the health of the older population. Hence, it would be a double-win investment for society.
List of papers:
I. Nilsen, C., Andel, R., Fors, S., Meinow, B., Mattsson, A. D., & Kåreholt, I. (2014). Associations between work-related stress in late midlife, educational attainment, and serious health problems in old age: a longitudinal study with over 20 years of follow-up. BMC Public Health, 14(1), 878.
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II. Nilsen, C., Agahi, N., & Kåreholt, I. (2017). Work stressors in late midlife and physical functioning in old age. Journal of Aging and Health, 29(5), 893-911.
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III. Nilsen, C., Andel, R., Fritzell, J., & Kåreholt, I. (2016). Work-related stress in midlife and all-cause mortality: can sense of coherence modify this association? The European Journal of Public Health, 26(6), 1055-1061.
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IV. Nilsen, C., Andel, R., Fritzell, J., Agahi, N., & Kåreholt, I. The influence of active jobs in midlife on leisure activity in old age. [Submitted]
I. Nilsen, C., Andel, R., Fors, S., Meinow, B., Mattsson, A. D., & Kåreholt, I. (2014). Associations between work-related stress in late midlife, educational attainment, and serious health problems in old age: a longitudinal study with over 20 years of follow-up. BMC Public Health, 14(1), 878.
Fulltext (DOI)
Pubmed
View record in Web of Science®
II. Nilsen, C., Agahi, N., & Kåreholt, I. (2017). Work stressors in late midlife and physical functioning in old age. Journal of Aging and Health, 29(5), 893-911.
Fulltext (DOI)
Pubmed
View record in Web of Science®
III. Nilsen, C., Andel, R., Fritzell, J., & Kåreholt, I. (2016). Work-related stress in midlife and all-cause mortality: can sense of coherence modify this association? The European Journal of Public Health, 26(6), 1055-1061.
Fulltext (DOI)
Pubmed
View record in Web of Science®
IV. Nilsen, C., Andel, R., Fritzell, J., Agahi, N., & Kåreholt, I. The influence of active jobs in midlife on leisure activity in old age. [Submitted]
Institution: Karolinska Institutet
Supervisor: Kåreholt, Ingemar
Co-supervisor: Agahi, Neda; Andel, Ross; Fritzell, Johan
Issue date: 2017-12-20
Rights:
Publication year: 2017
ISBN: 978-91-7676-920-1
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