P.2.29 Does a change in working conditions influence labour force participation among workers with a chronic disease?. (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schram, Jolinda; Robroek, Suzan; Ots, Patricia; Zon, Sander van; Brouwer, Sandra; Burdorf, Alex; Hengel, Karen Oude
• Is Part Of: Occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 76(2019)Supplement 1
• Page Start: A94
• Page End: A95
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; 616.980305
• DOI: 10.1136/OEM-2019-EPI.258
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1351-0711

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: This study investigated the association between changing working conditions and exit from paid employment during the following year among older workers with a chronic disease in the Netherlands. Method: Four annual waves from the Study on Transitions in Employment, Ability and Motivation (STREAM; 2010–2013) provided information on working conditions and demographics for 2838 older workers with a chronic disease, aged 45–64 years. The analytical sample consisted of 5491 responses from 2838 workers. Five types of working conditions were investigated; physical workload, psychological job demands, job autonomy, emotional job demands and social support. Discrete-time survival models were used to estimate the associations of change in working conditions in a particular year on the probability of exiting paid work for persons with a chronic disease in the following year. Results: Of the 2838 workers, a small majority was male (52%), most workers had an intermediate level of education (39.7%), and the mean age was 53.7 years (SD 5.50). Results showed that working conditions substantially changed (i.e. difference of one standard deviation) between two waves. Social support and emotional job demands had the highest amounts of substantial changes (17% and 19%), while physical demands remained relatively stable (6% substantial change). After the first two waves, about 12% of workers with a chronic illness left paid employment. Results of discrete-time survival models are expected to be available in 2019 (by the time of the EPICOH conference). Conclusion: Ensuring that working conditions can be adapted to the needs of older workers who have a chronic disease may help to extend working life.