Chronic health conditions and work-related stress in older adults participating in the Dutch workforce

The proportion of workers with chronic health conditions (CHCs) will increase over the years as pension reform is increasing the age of retirement in many European countries. This will increase the percentage of older adults with CHCs performing highly demanding work. This study sought to examine the association between common CHCs [cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, arthritis, respiratory and sleep disorders] and three domains of work stress in older Dutch workers. This study used data from the first wave of the NIDI Pension Panel Study for working adults aged 60–65 years (n = 6793). Logistic regression models examined the strength of association between CHCs and (1) general work stress, (2) emotional, and (3) physical demands. All five CHC were independently associated with one or more domains of stress. After including all CHCs in the model, CVD, sleep disorders, and arthritis were significantly associated with general stress. Respiratory disorders, sleep disorders, and arthritis were significantly associated with physical demands. Diabetes (1.25, 95% CI 1.01–1.53), sleep disorders (1.99, 95% CI 1.72–2.31), and arthritis (1.18, 95% CI 1.06–1.31) were significantly associated with emotional demands. Our findings demonstrate that work stress is associated with prevalent CHCs, and these conditions are differentially associated with several domains of work stress in adults approaching retirement. More research is needed to understand the causal relationship between CHCs and work stress. Such research may provide insights for effective workplace and public health interventions to ensure that older workers remain physically and mentally healthy, and productive through their working years

Effects of Prevalent and Newly Diagnosed Arthritis on Changes in Perceived Physical Demands and Work Stress Among Older Workers:Results of a 3 Year Panel Study

Objectives: Examine the effects of prevalent and newly diagnosed arthritis on changes in perceived physical demands and general work stress. Methods: Conditional change logistic regression models examined the strength of association between arthritis and perceived (1) work stress and (2) physical demands, using data from the NIDI Pension Panel Study (n = 2099). Results: Prevalent and newly diagnosed arthritis were associated with increased odds of perceived work stress and high physical demands. Manual workers with newly diagnosed arthritis exhibited a 6.73-fold (95% CI = 2.87–15.77) increased odds of physical demands. Arthritis in three body extremities was differentially associated with increased odds of work stress and physical demands in manual and non-manual workers. Discussion: Prevalent and incident arthritis were associated with changes in work stress and physical demands in older workers. Policies and workplace interventions to reduce stress and physical demands and improve workability in older workers with arthritis are needed

Impact of Retirement on Sleep Problems among Older Workers and Their Partners

Background and Objectives: Sleep problems are a public health burden and have adverse health consequences in older adults. Despite sleep being a shared biological process between couples, to date, there have not been any studies that have assessed the association between retirement and sleep in older couples. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of retirement on diagnosed sleep problems in older Dutch couples. Research Design and Methods: This study used data from 2 waves of the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute Pension Panel Study for older Dutch adults living with a partner (n = 3,726). Logistic regression models examined the strength of association between retirement and sleep problems, while accounting for the moderating role of relationship characteristics. Results: Retirement was associated with decreased odds of sleep problems at Wave 2 (odds ratio [OR] = 0.60, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.46-0.78). Lower relationship quality was associated with increased odds of sleep problems in the fully adjusted model (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.32-2.49). Having a partner with sleep problems was associated with an increased risk of sleep problems as well (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.07-2.13). There was evidence of effect modification by relationship quality (OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.05-3.31). Discussion and Implications: Retirement and sleep do not occur in a social vacuum and have implications beyond the individual level. More research is therefore needed to understand the impact of sleep and its health consequences on older coupled workers. Such research may provide valuable insights for the management and treatment of sleep problems and may have implications for the public health of aging communities

Stroke: Identifying Symptoms and Acting Fast to Save Lives and Prevent Permanent Disabilities

Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death in the United States. Strokes and their long-term effects are preventable. Recognizing the symptoms of stroke and acting quickly can prevent death and minimize long-term disabilities. Family members and bystanders have an important role to play. This issue brief describes stroke symptoms and prevention guidelines, summarizes the information 9-1-1 callers should be prepared to provide when someone is having a stroke, and discusses the importance of acting quickly to save lives and long-term damage

Older Adults with a History of Psychiatric Conditions Experience More Cognitive Decline than Older Adults Without this History

Having psychiatric conditions (such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder) throughout one’s life can lead to faster rates of cognitive decline as one ages. This data slice explores the associations between psychiatric history and cognitive function among U.S. White, Black, and Hispanic adults ages 65 and older from 1995-2014. Findings demonstrate that having a history of psychiatric problems is related to lower cognitive functioning and a faster rate of cognitive decline for all three groups, but Black and Hispanic adults experience steeper declines compared with White adults

Association of perceived job security and chronic health conditions with retirement in older UK and US workers

Background -- The relationship between job insecurity, chronic health conditions (CHCs) and retirement among older workers are likely to differ between countries that have different labor markets and health and social safety nets. To date, there are no epidemiological studies that have prospectively assessed the role of job insecurity in retirement incidence, while accounting for CHC trajectories in two countries with different welfare systems. We investigated the strength of the association between baseline job insecurity and retirement incidence over an 11-year period while accounting for CHC trajectories, among workers 50–55 years of age at baseline in the UK and USA. Methods --- We performed Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, using 2006–2016 data from the Health and Retirement Study (US cohort, n = 570) and English Longitudinal Study on Aging (UK cohort n = 1052). Results --- Job insecurity was associated with retirement after adjusting for CHC trajectories (HR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.50–0.95) in the UK cohort only. CHC trajectories were associated with retirement in both cohorts; however, this association was attenuated in the US cohort, but remained significant for the medium-increasing trajectory in the UK cohort (HR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.01–1.97) after adjustment for all covariates. Full adjustment for relevant covariates attenuated the association between job insecurity and retirement indicating that CHCs, social and health factors are contributing mechanistic factors underpinning retirement incidence. Conclusions --- The observed differences in the two cohorts may be driven by macro-level factors operating latently, which may affect the work environment, health outcomes and retirement decisions uniquely in different settings

Age of Migration Life Expectancy with Functional Limitations and Morbidity among Mexican Americans

The U.S. Mexican American population enjoys longer life expectancies relative to other racial/ethnic groups but is disproportionately affected by chronic conditions and functional limitations. Studying the impact of heterogeneity in age, time and other characteristics of migration among older Mexican Americans can inform our understanding of health disparities and health care needs in later-life. This research employed 20 years of data from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly to assess the proportion of life spent with functional limitations and one or more morbidity (by age of migration and gender) in the United States Mexican American population. Our results indicate early-life and late-life migrant women spend a larger number of years with performance-oriented mobility assessment (POMA) limitations than U.S.-born women. Conversely, mid-life migrant women were not statistically different from U.S.-born women in years spent disabled. Among men, mid-life migrants had longer life expectancies and spent more years disability-free than U.S.-born men. For morbidity, late-life migrant women spent a significantly smaller proportion of their elderly years with morbidity than U.S.-born women. However, late-life migrant men spent more years with morbidity than U.S.-born men. These findings illustrate that older Mexican Americans in the United States are heterogeneous in nativity and health outcomes. More years spent disabled/unhealthy may result in greater burden on family members and higher dependency on public resources. These findings have implications for the development of social and health policies to appropriately target the medical conditions and disabilities of older Mexican Americans entering late-life

An Examination of the Effects of Occupational Trajectories and Psychosocial Characteristics of Work on Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Birth Outcomes

Health disparities are a major public health concern, as are adverse reproductive health outcomes. One of the most persistent health disparities between blacks and whites is that of adverse birth outcomes. This research aimed to evaluate whether racial/ethnic differences in occupational substantive complexity (SC) trajectories were a significant contributor to racial/ethnic disparities in low birth weight (LBW) and preterm delivery (PTD). In addition, this research evaluated racial/ethnic disparities in occupational pathways and the effects on pregnancy outcomes of work that does not fully engage prior education. This was a longitudinal study that analyzed secondary data from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth (NLSY79), combined with occupational characteristics data from the Occupational Information Resource Center (O*NET). Data analysis involved descriptive analysis as well as generalized linear models (GLM) and generalized estimated equations (GEE), which were constructed to examine the associations between outcome and predictor variables, and to estimate the risk of LBW and PTD. Additionally, structural equation modeling (SEM) and general growth mixture models (GGMM) were employed to determine the main effects of longitudinal occupational trajectories relative to educational attainment on LBW and PTD, with particular attention to racial differences. The results of LBW analysis supported the study hypothesis. Minority mothers were over represented in low SC trajectories, and black mothers in particular showed an increased risk of giving birth to a LBW infant. Furthermore, foreign-born Hispanic mothers showed favorable outcomes in comparison to their US-born counterparts. The findings also supported the hypothesis of mediation by SC trajectories of the association between education and LBW. PTD results were inconclusive. Black mothers had an increased risk of PTD as hypothesized, however the mediating effects of SC trajectories were greater for Hispanics. This study is of great relevance to the field of Public Health, as it is adding to the body of knowledge on how disparities in birth outcomes may in part be a consequence of occupational characteristics, which in themselves are expressions, and results of deeper disparities. Additionally with more women working during the course of their pregnancy, this study will be beneficial to women\u27s reproductive health.