WORK ABILITY, INDIVIDUAL AND LIFESTYLE ASPECTS AMONG ZAGAZIG UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES

Abstract

Introduction: Work ability is a dynamic process of human resources in relation to work and affected by many factors including sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle and work demands through which health is considered as a primary determinant of work ability. Aim of work: to measure the work ability among employees at Zagazig University and its relationship with some individual and life style aspects. Materials and methods: A cross sectional study was conducted over a period of 4 months upon 251 employees at Zagazig University. The validated work ability index issued by Finnish Institute of Occupational Health is used to measure the employees’ work ability and a structured questionnaire is used for assessing some individual and life style factors. Our participants were taken through multistage cluster technique. Results: The majority of our sample had good work ability (59.4%). There was significant relationship between work ability and some individual factors which are aging (OR= 2.5) and normal weight (OR= 2.5). Also, several lifestyle aspects showed significant relationship with employees’ work ability with the following Odds Ratios; proper physical activity (OR= 37.5), adequate fiber intake (OR= 2.7) and coping with stress (OR= 4.9). Conclusion and recommendations: Individual and lifestyle aspects has been significantly associated with work ability, therefore policy makers has to take into consideration planning and implementation of health promotion programs concerning work related individual and life style factors to improve the performance of employees. Further researches are needed to study the work related factors, micro and macro environment outside the work life as work ability is multifactorial in nature.