Experiences of WAI in a random sample of the Swedish working population

Abstract

Aim of the present study was to evaluate the usability of the Work Ability Index (WAI) in a random sample of the Swedish working population. Totally 6637 subjects were selected randomly from the whole Swedish population of ages 25–75 years, stratified based on gender, age and place of domicile. The present study is based on responses from employed or self-employed subjects 25 to 64 years old, 1011 women (mean age 44.4 years) and 951 men (mean age 44.9). Rank correlation analyses between total WAI score and the seven subscores and factor analyses of the seven subscores were performed in relation to gender, age group, level of total WAI score. The Work Ability Index seems to be a useful tool not only among older workers but also among the entire working population, but the distortion of the distribution should be taken into consideration when evaluating WAI results in healthy groups and when planning new studies. Further evaluations of the WAI instrument are needed regarding changes in demands in present working life, workers of different ages and in relation to other instruments that measure work ability.