Effort-reward imbalance and work ability: cross-sectional and longitudinal findings from the Second German Sociomedical Panel of Employees

Matthias Bethge,Christoph Gutenbrunner,Friedrich Michael Radoschewski

doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-875

Matthias Bethge, Christoph Gutenbrunner + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-875

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Abstract

BackgroundAlthough data from longitudinal studies are sparse, effort-reward imbalance (ERI) seems to affect work ability. However, the potential pathway from restricted work ability to ERI must also be considered. Therefore, the aim of our study was to analyse cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between ERI and work ability and vice versa.MethodsData come from the Second German Sociomedical Panel of Employees. Logistic regression models were estimated to determine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations. The sample used to predict new cases of poor or moderate work ability was restricted to cases with good or excellent work ability at baseline. The sample used to predict new cases of ERI was restricted to persons without ERI at baseline.ResultsThe cross-sectional analysis included 1501 full-time employed persons. The longitudinal analyses considered 600 participants with good or excellent baseline work ability and 666 participants without baseline ERI, respectively. After adjustment for socio-demographic variables, health-related behaviour and factors of the work environment, ERI was cross-sectionally associated with poor or moderate work ability (OR = 1.980; 95% CI: 1.428 to 2.747). Longitudinally, persons with ERI had 2.1 times higher odds of poor or moderate work ability after one year (OR = 2.093; 95% CI: 1.047 to 4.183). Conversely, persons with poor or moderate work ability had 2.6 times higher odds of an ERI after one year (OR = 2.573; 95% CI: 1.314 to 5.041).ConclusionsInterventions that enable workers to cope with ERI or address indicators of ERI directly could promote the maintenance of work ability. Integration management programmes for persons with poor work ability should also consider their psychosocial demands.

Highlights

Data from longitudinal studies are sparse, effort-reward imbalance (ERI) seems to affect work ability
0.68 0.82 0.79 0.84 0.89 n = 1501; SD, standard deviation; IQR, interquartile range; WAI, Work Ability Index; BMI, body mass index; ER ratio, effort-reward ratio; ERI, effort-reward imbalance behaviour and other factors of the work environment, ERI had an effect on WAI in the crosssectional and longitudinal analyses
These results are in line with recent cross-sectional [14,15,37] and longitudinal findings [16] and confirm that reciprocity and fairness at work, as operationalised by Siegrist’s ERI model, have a relevant impact on work ability independent of

Summary

Introduction

Data from longitudinal studies are sparse, effort-reward imbalance (ERI) seems to affect work ability. The aim of our study was to analyse cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between ERI and work ability and vice versa. The rapid growth of transnational interdependence of capital, trade and labour that characterises economic globalisation seems to be changing work and employment. These changes go along with work intensification, job insecurity, poor quality of work and wage inequalities in a highly competitive labour market [1,2,3,4].

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