Middle-aged Workers Research Articles

Questionnaire-based scoring system for screening moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in middle-aged Japanese workers.

Currently available questionnaires have limited ability to measure physical activity (PA) using accelerometers as a gold standard. This study aimed to develop a PA questionnaire for middle-aged Japanese workers and propose a PA scoring system for predicting low moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). A total of 428 participants (median age 49years; 75.8% men) participated in a 7-day PA measurement using an accelerometer and a questionnaire. The association between questionnaire responses and low MVPA (<150min/wk) was assessed by logistic regression analysis. A score was assigned to each response based on the correlation coefficients of the multivariate model. The ability of the sum score to predict low MVPA was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Five questionnaire items were used for measuring PA scores (range: 0-50; higher scores indicated a higher probability of low MVPA). The AUC was 0.741 (95% CI, 0.689-0.792), and the sensitivity and specificity at the optimal cut-off value were 66.7% and 68.2%, respectively. This predictive ability was slightly increased by body mass index (AUC 0.745 [95% CI, 0.693-0.796]; sensitivity 69.9%; specificity 66.9%). These predictive values were greater than those of conventional questionnaires used in health checkups in Japan (P < .05). This questionnaire-based PA scoring system showed moderate accuracy in predicting low MVPA. It is useful for screening physically inactive workers and promoting PA.

Appealing to fear to promote self-care behaviors for stress: a web-based experimental study in middle-aged workers

Appealing to fear to promote self-care behaviors for stress: a web-based experimental study in middle-aged workers

Middle-aged adults' career trajectories and later-life financial security: evidence from Korea.

This study explored how middle-aged workers' career trajectory patterns were associated with their financial security later in life. Grounded by a life course perspective, we approached their career trajectories by considering a 'human agency within structure' framework. We explored sequences of employment status, starting with their lifetime main job to subsequent jobs after contractual retirement, using data from 1,010 middle-aged adults in Seoul, South Korea. The sequence analysis identified six career trajectory patterns. Stable career patterns included the Permanent to permanent trajectory as well as the Permanent to self-employment trajectory and these were most common among males with higher education degrees, higher earnings and better career alignment. Unstable career patterns such as the Temporary to temporary trajectory, the Permanent to temporary trajectory or the Churning trajectory were most common among those who were female, had lower levels of education lower earnings or had retired involuntarily. Further results showed that unstable career patterns were associated with lower levels of monthly earnings and total assets post-contractual retirement. Individuals with unstable career patterns were also less likely to be financially prepared for retirement. We suggest individualising education programmes for retirement preparation based on various career trajectories and demographic attributes to aid middle-aged adults in preparing for financial security later in life.

Care Workers' Wellbeing in Data-Driven Healthcare Workplace: Identity, Agency, and Social Justice

This paper zooms in on a particularly precarious and largely invisibilized group of care workers: middle-aged and less-educated female migrant workers from rural China. Drawing from a mixed-methods study, we specifically examine how the extensive use of data-driven technologies impacts care workers' wellbeing in the workplace. Our findings suggest the extensive use of data-driven healthcare technologies are eroding care workers' workplace wellbeing, especially their sense of identity, agency, and perceived justice. Specifically, in the data-driven workplace, care workers are treated as a servant to data, instead of a human with agency and knowledge. They are no merely care workers who provide various care services for care receivers, but also data workers, whose practices and agency are greatly limited by data. This aggravates preexisting hardship of care workers, and reproduces new social injustice. We suggest CSCW researchers and practitioners take into account how pre-existing social structures shaped the designs of socio-technological systems, and reconceptualize the paradigm of "data-drivenness" for more just and ethical data-driven healthcare technologies.

Effects of cognitive and stress management training in middle-aged and older industrial workers in different socioeconomic settings: a randomized controlled study.

The demographic change requires longer working lifetime. However, fear of job loss may lead to chronic stress whereas aging and unchallenging work may accelerate cognitive decline and early retirement. Long-time repetitive work led to impairments of cognitive functions in middle-aged and older employees, as demonstrated in a previous study conducted in a large car manufacturer. In the present study, a training concept was implemented to enhance the cognitive and emotional competence of these employees. A first group of employees received a trainer-guided cognitive training only, whereas a wait list control group received a cognitive training and stress management training. This design was applied in two independent samples separated by one year either during or after a socioeconomically tense situation of the factory. In sample 1, with a tense occupational situation, the cognitive training effects occurred with a delay of three months. In contrast, in sample 2, with less critical socioeconomic situation, the training effects occurred immediately and persisted three months later. Stress management training showed reduction of subjectively and objectively measured stress level. The results indicate that effects of cognitive interventions are diminished under chronic stress which can be reduced after a short stress management training. This leads also to enhanced attention and memory in daily life. In contrast, in Sample 2 with less chronic stress, effects of cognitive training were stronger and persisted at least three months later, whereas stress management training had less impact. This suggests that cognitive learning in occupational settings is only efficient at lower stress levels.

Pension reforms, longer working horizons and depression. Does the risk of automation matter?

We investigate the effect of postponing minimum retirement age on middle-aged workers’ depression. Using pension reforms in several European countries and data from the SHARE survey, we find that depression increases with a longer work horizon, but only among workers in occupations with a relatively high risk of automation. We explain our results with the higher job insecurity associated with occupations that are more exposed to automation, and rule out alternatives, including pension wealth effects and the differential exposure of occupations to the business cycle.

Metabolic syndrome increases the risk for premature employment exit: A longitudinal study among 60 427 middle-aged and older workers from the Lifelines Cohort Study and Biobank.

This study aimed to examine whether (i) metabolic syndrome (MetS) increases the risk for premature employment exit and (ii) a dose-response relationship exists between an increasing number of MetS components and premature employment exit among middle-aged and older workers. A sample of N=60 427 Dutch workers (40-64 years old) from the Lifelines Cohort Study and Biobank were examined using data from five measurement waves during a total median follow-up time of 4.2 years. MetS components were based on physical measures, blood markers, and medication use. Premature employment exit types (ie, unemployment, work disability, and early retirement) were determined using questionnaires. MetS and number of MetS components were examined as risk factors for premature employment exit using competing risk regression analysis. MetS significantly increased the risk for work disability [adjusted sub distribution hazard ratio (SHR) 1.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.54-2.05] and unemployment (adjusted SHR 1.16, 95% CI 1.06-1.26). A clear dose-response relationship was found for an increasing number of MetS components and work disability. No associations were found between MetS (components) and early retirement after adjusting for sociodemographic factors. MetS was identified as a modifiable early-stage cardio-metabolic risk factor especially for work disability and, to a lesser extent, for unemployment. Further, a clear dose-response relationship was found between an increasing number of MetS components and work disability. MetS interventions and prevention might help to prolong working lives. More awareness is needed among employers and occupational health professionals about the premature employment exit risk faced by middle-aged and older workers with MetS.

25-PO - Mid-intensity Physical Activity might be the Protective Factor against Metabolic Syndrome in Metabolic Healthy, Middle-aged Blue-collar Workers - An Analysis of the 2018 KNHANES

25-PO - Mid-intensity Physical Activity might be the Protective Factor against Metabolic Syndrome in Metabolic Healthy, Middle-aged Blue-collar Workers - An Analysis of the 2018 KNHANES

Too old for modern work? An explicit and implicit measure of the modern-work-is-young stereotype

With organizational practices such as working from home, agile project management, and shared leadership, the world of work is becoming increasingly dynamic and flexible. Simultaneously, the workforce in most industrialized nations is getting older. We hypothesized that both an explicit and implicit stereotype exists that associates modern work practices (MWP) more strongly with younger workers than with older workers (i.e. modern-work-is-young stereotype). With a focus on other-stereotyping, we surveyed participants who identified as younger or middle-aged workers ( N = 186). Based on the contact hypothesis, we assumed that contact to older coworkers and contact with MWP are negatively related to both explicit and implicit endorsement of the modern-work-is-young stereotype. Furthermore, we examined differences in résumé evaluations for a job involving MWP, presenting an older and a younger hypothetical applicant. The results indicate the existence of a moderate explicit as well as implicit modern-work-is-young stereotype. The proposed contact hypothesis held true for the explicit but not for the implicit modern-work-is-young stereotype. Lastly, the younger applicant received significantly more positive evaluations than the older applicant, and only the explicit modern-work-is-young stereotype predicted the extent of age discrimination. The results suggest that the explicit modern-work-is-young stereotype can harm older employees and hamper intergenerational collaboration. These findings are especially important in times of demographic change, when workforces are becoming increasingly age-heterogeneous and retaining older workers seems more important than ever.

Does a Longer Work Horizon Affect Offsprings' Labour Market Outcomes?

This paper studies the effect of an increase in the work horizon of middle aged workers on the school-work transition of their offsprings aged 15–29 years. I exploit the variation in the parental work horizon induced by the 2012 Fornero reform in Italy that abruptly changed the age and years of social security contribution requirements for pension eligibility. Utilising a difference-in-difference strategy in a multi-valued treatment setting, the study shows that the reform-induced increase in the work horizon of mothers caused an increase in the probability of their offsprings seeking their first job and a decrease in these offsprings’ probability of being a student. This effect is higher among offsprings who are male, those aged 15–21, those with mothers without a University degree and those in southern Italy. Fathers did not significantly affect the student status or any labour market outcomes of their offsprings. Mechanisms behind these findings include the longer reform-induced work horizon for mothers vs. fathers, and the consequent positive effect on mothers’ lifetime earnings.

Potential Effect of Combined Exposure of Crystalline Silica Dust and Cigarette Smoking on the Incidence of Silicosis among Chinese Male Stone Processing Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Silicosis is a progressive and irreversible disease primarily caused by exposure to crystalline silica dust and, to a lesser extent, cigarette smoking. However, further research is needed to validate the potential combined effect of these risk factors on the increased incidence of the disease. Methods: A total of 1688 male workers employed at a Chinese stone processing plant between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2019, were included in the study. Cumulative exposure to industrial crystalline silica dust and packyears of smoking were collected through health surveillance, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for silicotic changes due to industrial silica exposure and cigarette smoking were estimated using logistic regression models. Results: Among all participants, a significant exposure-response relationship was observed between long-term exposure to industrial silica dust and radiographic findings resembling silicosis (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.41). However, among middle-aged workers, a weak and statistically insignificant relationship was found between prolonged cigarette smoking and X-ray evidence of lung silicosis (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.53). Furthermore, significant combined effects, exceeding the additive models, were identified in each age group and employment sector (relative risk due to interaction 0.51, 95% CI 0.08 to 3.42). Conclusions: It is critically important to implement effective dust removal measures and tobacco control strategies in order to enhance respiratory health among employees across all age groups in the stone processing industry.

Investigation and analysis of the safety risk factors of aging construction workers

The proportion of middle-aged and aging workers is increasing year by year in the construction industry. Affected by their physical functions and other conditions, the death rate of aging construction workers is higher than that of the workers in other age groups, which brings higher risks to the safety of the industry. Therefore, the paper aims to determine the main risk factor of safety brought on by the aging construction workers, and the degree of influence of safety risk factor on aging construction workers. Through the design of the questionnaire, the number and type of index to be studied are selected. The 6 first-level indexes and 30 second-level indexes were selected from 100 indexes. The AHP method was used to evaluate the influence of aging construction workers on the safety risk factor. The classification of work contents of aging construction workers in different age groups is proposed to reduce safety risks and provide an effective basis for management. The significance of this study is as follows: (1) The concrete analysis of index affecting the safety risk of aging construction workers has enriched the existing academic research; (2) the quantitative risk index system in the study, provides a reference value for further research in the academic circle; (3) The study of this paper has certain reference significance for construction companies and government regulatory departments to formulate policies and measures, such as job classification of aging workers in different ages and restrictive conditions for high-risk work.

2차 베이비붐 세대 1인 가구 임금근로자의 긍정적 업무해결력 영향 요인 연구

This study identify factors that contribute to positive workplace outcomes among middle-aged wage workers in single-person households second-generation of baby boomers. The research subjects were 383 male and female out of 9,358 participants in the 2021 KLoEE, and path model analysis was conducted using SPSS and AMOS programs. As a result of the analysis, subjective health had a significant positive effect on job satisfaction, while gross household income had a negative effect on coworker relationships and workload, and a significant positive effect on job satisfaction. There were direct effects of coworker relationships and workload and job satisfaction on positive work problem solving, and gross household income had a significant effect on positive work resolution, mediated by coworker relationships and workload and job satisfaction. Based on the study, we propose to continue discussions and conduct research to improve work competence and problem solving skills in preparation for super old age.

Characteristics and Socio-Demographic Distribution of Precarious Employment Among Korean Wage Workers: A Proposition of Multidimensional Approach Using a Summative Score

IntroductionThere is a growing global interest in the issue of precarious employment. We aimed to analyze the characteristics and socio-demographic distribution of precarious employment using a summative score approach. MethodsTo operationalize precarious employment, we utilized data from the Korean Working Conditions Survey and focused on three distinct dimensions: employment insecurity, income inadequacy, and a lack of rights and protections. By constructing a summative scale ranging from -16 to 2, with lower scores indicating higher precariousness, we measured employment precariousness among Korean wage workers. To compare employment precariousness according to survey participant characteristics, we employed the Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test. ResultsWe analyzed a weighted number of 38,432 workers. The overall sample showed a median (Q1, Q3) summative scale score of -3 (-6, -1). The median summative score was lower for women compared to men (men: -2; women: -5; p < 0.001), as well as for young or older workers compared to middle-aged workers (young: -4; middle-aged: -2; older: -5; p < 0.001). Similarly, workers with lower educational levels (middle school or below: -8; high school: -5; college or above: -2; p < 0.001) and non-white collar workers (blue collar: -5; service/sales worker: -6; white collar: -2; p < 0.001) experienced higher levels of employment precariousness. ConclusionOur findings indicate that certain vulnerable groups, such as women, young or older adults, workers with low educational attainment, and caregiving or low-skilled elementary workers, are disproportionately exposed to high employment precariousness. Active policy interventions are needed to improve the employment quality of vulnerable groups.

Job demands and job control and their associations with disability pension—a register-based cohort study of middle-aged and older Swedish workers

ObjectivesJob demands and control at work and their combination, job strain, have been studied in relation to risk of disability pension (DP) previously. In the present study, based on registry data, we aimed to deepen the knowledge by analyzing major disease groups among the DPs, dose–response shape of the associations, and potential confounding effects of physical workload.MethodsApproximately 1.8 million workers aged 44 or older and living in Sweden in 2005 were followed up for 16 years, up to a maximum of 65 years of age. We linked mean values of job demands and job control, estimated in a job-exposure matrice (JEM) by gender, to individuals through their occupational titles in 2005. These values were categorized by rank order, and, for the construction of job-strain quadrants, we used a median cut-off. Associations with DP were estimated in Cox proportional-hazards models.ResultsIn models accounting for covariates including physical workload, low levels of job control were associated with higher risk of DP among both men and women. This association was most clear for DP with a psychiatric diagnosis, although a dose–response shape was found only among the men. High levels of job demands were associated with decreased risk of DP across diagnoses among men, but the same association varied from weak to non-existing among women. The high- and passive job-strain quadrants both showed increased risk of DP with a psychiatric diagnosis.ConclusionThe results suggest that, at the occupational level, low job control, but not high job demands, contributes to an increased incidence of DP, particularly regarding DP with a psychiatric diagnosis.

Contributing factors for older workers’ mental health: Perceived team leader equitable treatment and core self-evaluations

Sustaining a mentally healthy workforce has become a priority as our labor market continues to age. However, few studies have evaluated the factors that contribute to older workers’ mental well-being or the role of older workers’ personal resources in the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory. This study investigates the role of perceived team leader equitable treatment and core self-evaluations (CSE) on older workers’ mental health by comparing with other age groups. We analyzed the responses of 271 American workers aged 50 and older using structural equation modeling and compared them with the responses of 284 middle-aged workers (35–49 years old) and 272 younger workers (under 34 years old). Results showed that CSE mediated the relationship between perceived team leader equitable treatment and mental health of all employees. CSE was a protective factor for mental health regardless of age. The findings highlight the importance of building CSE of all employees.

Factors Associated with Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders Risk among Bamboo Craftsman in Mojorejo Village, Ponorogo Indonesia

Introduction: Work-related Musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) becomes the one of most-occupational problem and highly related to the individual and work factors. Eighty percent (80%) workers in the woven bamboo industry in Mojorejo Village dominated by middle aged workers (&gt;40 years) that most of their producing activities are manually handled, without using machine or modern technology. Incompatibility work station, long working hours and repeated movement aggravated the WMSDs risk. This study aims to describe the WMSDs risk and determine its factors based on individual characteristics. Methods: There are 58 workers as respondents in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected and analyzed using quantitative method. Posture Exposure (PE) were measured using the QEC instrument. While the WMSDs risk were measured using PLIBEL. Individual factors (PE, Age, Working Period) related to WMSDs were analyzed using Multinomial Logistic Regression (95% CI). The Chi-square test were also used to compare PE rates among WMSDs risk levels. Results: Most respondents (48.3%) with 51-70% PE rate have a high level of WMSDs risk. While 27 % respondents with PE rate &gt;70% have a very high level. The neck is the region most exposed to the WMSDs (score 15.5/very high level risk). PE rate is the only factor that significantly related to WMSDs risk (sig. = 0.043; Rsquare = 0.529; r =0.703). While the age and working period has no significant correlation (Sig = 0.859 and 0.851 respectively). Conclusion: Based on the result, immediate improvement required to be implemented. It is suggested to redesigned work stations adjusted to the workers posture and position.

The economic value of language in China: How important is Mandarin proficiency in the Chinese labor market? A bounding approach

To shed light on the effectiveness of promoting the use of Mandarin, this paper analyses the economic value of Mandarin in the Chinese labor market using data from the 2016 wave of the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey. To address the self-selection issue, we use both an instrumental variable (IV) and nonparametric bounding approaches. Our results show that the overall return on Mandarin proficiency is positive, ranging from 10.5% to 49.9% across the whole sample. A driving mechanism is that workers with a high Mandarin proficiency are more likely to find jobs that match their expertise, which then increases their productivity in the workplace. We also find that the returns are heterogeneous across different subgroups: (1) Women benefit more than men, which suggests that language proficiency can help reduce the gender wage gap; (2) The return on Mandarin proficiency is statistically significant and positive for young and middle-aged workers, but there is not enough evidence for older workers; (3) The return is larger for individuals living in urban areas than those in rural areas. In addition, we find that the IV method cannot be extrapolated to obtain the marginal returns across different treatment groups, as its coefficient is incredibly large, thus overestimating the economic returns on Mandarin proficiency.

Association of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol with Risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke among Middle-Aged Japanese Workers: An Analysis using Inverse Probability Weighting.

The associations between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) subtypes are not well established among the Japanese population. This study used longitudinal data from the Aichi Workers' Cohort Study to explore the association between LDL-C levels and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke subtypes. Pooled data of 8966 adults (7093men and 1903 women) who were recruited between (2002) and (2008) were used for the current analysis. Propensity scores for the LDL-C categories were generated using multinomial logistic regression. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated from the inverse probability weighted Cox proportional hazards model for LDL-C category associations with risks of CHD, stroke subtypes, and CVD. During a median follow-up of 12 years, 122 strokes (57 ischemic strokes, 25 intracerebral hemorrhage, and 40 unknown subtypes) and 82 cases of CHD were observed. LDL-C 160- mg/dL compared to LDL-C 100-119 mg/dL was positively and significantly associated with the risk of CHD (HR: 4.56; 95% CI: 1.91-10.9) but not with ischemic stroke (HR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.44-2.22). LDL-C was inversely associated with the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (P for trend=0.009). In middle-aged Japanese workers, LDL-C was significantly and positively associated with CHD, but not with ischemic stroke. LDL-C was inversely significantly associated with intracerebral hemorrhage.

중·고령 근로자의 조기은퇴 결정요인

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the determinants of early retirement for the mid-old aged according to the polarized occupational groups. Based on push and pull dualism, this paper demonstratively identified the determinants of those under the age of 60 worker’s early retirement decision under the perspective that the retirement timing varies depending on their polarized occupations: managers, (semi)experts as one group, and service workers, sales workers, agricultural and fishing skilled workers, and simple labor workers as the other group. To this end, this study was carried out on the KLoSA, using from the 2nd(2008) to 8th(2020) survey and using independent T-test, chi-squared test, and logistic regression. The main findings of this study are as follows. First, as a result of analyzing the determinants of early retirement of all workers, the pull factor was dominant over the push factor. Second, among managers and (semi)experts, push factors are found to have more influence on their early retirement decisions than pull factors. Lastly, among service workers, sales workers, agricultural and fishing skilled workers, and simple labor workers, both push and pull factors affect strongly the decision of early retirement for the mid-old aged. Based on these results, it is suggested that a guarantee system for retirement should reflect the job characteristics of middle-aged workers, a strategy to remove barriers to labor demand should be activated, and health promotion, and management activities in companies are needed.