Work Characteristics Associated with Physical Functioning in Women.

Aimee Palumbo,Anneclaire De Roos,Carolyn Cannuscio,Lucy Robinson,Lorena Garcia,Jana Mossey,Robert Wallace,Yvonne Michael,Julie Weitlauf

doi:10.3390/ijerph14040424

Abstract

Women make up almost half of the labor force with older women becoming a growing segment of the population. Work characteristics influence physical functioning and women are at particular risk for physical limitations. However, little research has explored the effects of work characteristics on women’s physical functioning. U.S. women between the ages of 50 and 79 were enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study between 1993 and 1998. Women provided job titles and years worked at their three longest-held jobs (n = 79,147). Jobs were linked to characteristics in the Occupational Information Network. Three categories of job characteristics related to substantive complexity, physical demand, and social collaboration emerged. The association between job characteristics and physical limitations in later life, measured using a SF-36 Physical Functioning score <25th percentile, was examined using modified Poisson regression. After controlling for confounding variables, high physical demand was positively associated with physical limitations (RR = 1.09 CI: 1.06–1.12) and substantively complex work was negatively associated (RR = 0.94, CI: 0.91–0.96). Jobs requiring complex problem solving, active learning, and critical thinking were associated with better physical functioning. Employers should explore opportunities to reduce strain from physically demanding jobs and incorporate substantively complex tasks into women’s work to improve long-term health.

Highlights

The U.S Census Bureau estimates that the population aged 65 and over will double by 2050 and will account for over 20% of all U.S residents [1]
There were 274,859 job titles reported to Women’s Health Initiative (WHI)-OS by 91,627 women
Algorithm, 15% of the job titles were matched to 747 6-digit Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes, 81% were matched to 93 codes and the remaining jobs were matched to 2-digit SOC codes

Summary

Introduction

The U.S Census Bureau estimates that the population aged 65 and over will double by 2050 and will account for over 20% of all U.S residents [1]. The oldest-old age group, those aged 85 and older, is expected to grow to 18 million and account for 4.5% of the population [1]. An increasing proportion of adults will experience disease and disability and require medical care or supportive services. In 2012, 28% of adults 65–74 and 45% of adults 75 and over had difficulty performing physical activities and women were more likely to have difficulties than men, even after. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 424; doi:10.3390/ijerph14040424 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

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