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Predictors of work ability in occupations with psychological stress

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Abstract

Aim

This study aimed to detect health- and work-related predictors of poor and good work ability in teachers (TE) and office workers (OW).

Method

Work ability and its influence factors were analyzed in 100 female TE and 60 female OW aged between 25 and 60 years. The work ability was evaluated with the work ability index questionnaire and the health status with the vitality measurement system®. In addition, cardiac risk factors, burnout risk, as well as the working demands and effort-reward ratio were taken into account. Predictors of work ability were analyzed by using a CHAID analysis. The number of complaints represents the best predictor to divide both occupational groups into subgroups with different work abilities (criterion variable).

Results

Poor work ability is caused by many complaints and cardiovascular risk factors. By contrast, excellent work ability is associated with few complaints, the occupation “office workers,” a younger vital functional age, and the absence of burnout symptoms, which means in comparison with OW, TE have a 1.6 times higher risk for impaired work ability. Furthermore, the absence of burnout symptoms is a resource of TE, whereas OWs tend to have a younger vital functional age compared to their calendrical age. Although this analysis is able to explain 61.2% of the influence on impaired work ability, research for further causes must be undertaken.

Conclusion

The results reflect the positive effect of a high educational level and a challenging job on the preservation of good work ability. Moreover, they draw the attention to the psychological and psychosocial strains of TE. TEs are exposed more frequently to feeling overstrained; this probably effects a higher retirement rate due to illness.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Technical University of Dresden, Institute and Clinic of Occupational and Social Medicine, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    Reingard Seibt, Silvia Spitzer & Klaus Scheuch

  2. Technical University of Dresden, Institute of Sociology, Chemnitzer Straße 46a, 01187, Dresden, Germany

    Matthes Blank

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  1. Reingard Seibt
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  2. Silvia Spitzer
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  3. Matthes Blank
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  4. Klaus Scheuch
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Correspondence to Reingard Seibt.

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Seibt, R., Spitzer, S., Blank, M. et al. Predictors of work ability in occupations with psychological stress. J Public Health 17, 9–18 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-008-0194-9

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