Abstract
PurposePersons in lower occupational positions experience higher rates of morbidity compared to workers in higher advantaged positions. Working conditions may explain this occupational health gradient. Most studies consider either psychosocial or physical work demands at one point in time. In our study, we examine both physical and psychosocial work demands and their association with health status differentiated by job requirement level. We further distinguish between constant and changing work demands.MethodsUsing data from the first two waves of the German cohort study on work, age and health, we analyse a sample of 3644 older workers born in 1959 and 1965. We test direct and mediating effects of high physical and psychosocial work demands on functional physical and mental health. For this, we estimate a prospective path model using multiple linear regression models.ResultsOur results show that (1) constant high physical and psychosocial work demands affect physical and mental health negatively and (2) high physical workload partly mediates the relationship between job requirement level and physical health. Moreover, at least for men, a reduction of physical and psychosocial workload improves mental health status.ConclusionsResearch and prevention measures currently focus particularly on psychosocial work demands. Our study shows that high physical workload is still present among older workers. Its negative health effect refers to occupational safety and health measures that take into account both the physical and psychosocial work environment as well as workers’ occupational positions.
Highlights
A social gradient in health is well documented in empirical research: groups with a lower occupational status experience higher rates of morbidity compared to higher advantaged groups of workers (Mackenbach et al 2008; van der Molen et al 2018)
Empirical studies identify a mediating effect of physical work demands for the relationship between occupational position and physical health (Kaikkonen et al 2009; Lahelma et al 2006; Niedhammer et al 2008): workers with a lower occupational position experience health-adverse working conditions more often, as their jobs are rather characterized by unhealthy risk factors (Hämmig and Bauer 2013)
The picture is less clear with regard to psychosocial work demands, as some harmful risk factors such as high time pressure, frequent interruptions, or working overtime are more likely in higher occupational positions (Hoven and Siegrist 2013; Kaikkonen et al 2009; Lahelma et al 2006)
Summary
A social gradient in health is well documented in empirical research: groups with a lower occupational status experience higher rates of morbidity compared to higher advantaged groups of workers (Mackenbach et al 2008; van der Molen et al 2018).
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