Does age modify the association between psychosocial factors at work and deterioration of self-rated health?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Does age modify the association between psychosocial factors at work and deterioration of self-rated health?

AU - Burr, Hermann

AU - Hasselhorn, Hans Martin

AU - Kersten, Norbert

AU - Pohrt, Anne

AU - Rugulies, Reiner

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - Objectives: Few epidemiological studies have examined whether associations of psychosocial working conditions with risk of poor health differ by age. Based on results from mostly cross-sectional studies, we test whether (i) psychosocial relational factors (social support) are more strongly associated with declining health of older than younger employees and (ii) psychosocial job factors (workpace, influence, possibilities for development) are more strongly associated with declining health of younger than older employees. Methods: We extracted two cohorts from the Danish Work Environment Cohort Study (DWECS): the 2000- 2005 and 2005-2010 cohorts. The participating 5281 employees with good self-rated health (SRH) at baseline were observed in 6585 5-year time windows. Using log-binomial regression analyses, we analysed whether psychosocial factors at work predicted 5-year deterioration of SRH. Effect modification by age was estimated by calculating relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI). Results: High workpace among men, low influence at work as well as low social support from colleagues among women, and low possibilities for development and low social support from supervisors among both genders predicted 5-year decline in SRH. Of the 20 interaction analyses, only 1 was statistically significant and in the opposite direction of what was hypothesized (higher risk for declining SRH among middle-aged men with low possibilities for development compared to the young men with high possibilities for development). Conclusions: Psychosocial working conditions predicted decline in SRH in this 5-year follow-up study. The model did not support our hypotheses about effect modification by age.

AB - Objectives: Few epidemiological studies have examined whether associations of psychosocial working conditions with risk of poor health differ by age. Based on results from mostly cross-sectional studies, we test whether (i) psychosocial relational factors (social support) are more strongly associated with declining health of older than younger employees and (ii) psychosocial job factors (workpace, influence, possibilities for development) are more strongly associated with declining health of younger than older employees. Methods: We extracted two cohorts from the Danish Work Environment Cohort Study (DWECS): the 2000- 2005 and 2005-2010 cohorts. The participating 5281 employees with good self-rated health (SRH) at baseline were observed in 6585 5-year time windows. Using log-binomial regression analyses, we analysed whether psychosocial factors at work predicted 5-year deterioration of SRH. Effect modification by age was estimated by calculating relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI). Results: High workpace among men, low influence at work as well as low social support from colleagues among women, and low possibilities for development and low social support from supervisors among both genders predicted 5-year decline in SRH. Of the 20 interaction analyses, only 1 was statistically significant and in the opposite direction of what was hypothesized (higher risk for declining SRH among middle-aged men with low possibilities for development compared to the young men with high possibilities for development). Conclusions: Psychosocial working conditions predicted decline in SRH in this 5-year follow-up study. The model did not support our hypotheses about effect modification by age.

KW - ageing

KW - COPSOQ

KW - Decision authority

KW - DWECS

KW - Interaction

KW - Job factor

KW - Older worker

KW - Psychosocial work environment

KW - Relational factor

KW - Skill discretion

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85028709983&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.5271/sjweh.3648

DO - 10.5271/sjweh.3648

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28553992

AN - SCOPUS:85028709983

SN - 0355-3140

VL - 43

SP - 465

EP - 474

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health

IS - 5

ER -