TY - JOUR

T1 - Work factors facilitating working beyond state pension age

T2 - Prospective cohort study with register follow-up

AU - Andersen, Lars L.

AU - Thorsen, Sannie

AU - Larsen, Mona

AU - Sundstrup, Emil

AU - Boot, Cecile R. L.

AU - Rugulies, Reiner

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Objectives The demographic changes in Europe underline the need for an extension of working lives. This study investigates the importance of physical work demands and psychosocial work factors for working beyond the state pension age (65 years).Methods We combined data from three cohorts of the general working population in Denmark (DWECS 2005 and 2010, and DANES 2008), where actively employed workers aged 55-59 years replied to questionnaires about work environment and were followed until the age of 66 years in the Danish AMRun register of paid employment. Using logistic regression analyses, we calculated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between physical and psychosocial work factors and working beyond state pension age, adjusted for age, sex, cohort, cohabiting, sector, income, vocational education, working hours, lifestyle, and previous sickness absence.Results Of the 2884 workers aged 55-59 years, 1023 (35.5%) worked beyond the state pension age. Higher physical work demands was associated with a lower likelihood (PR 0.69, 95% CI 0.58-0.82) and a good psychosocial work environment was associated with higher likelihood (average of 7 items: PR 1.81, 95% CI 1.49-2.20) of working beyond state pension age. Stratified analyses did not change the overall pattern, ie, a good overall psychosocial work environment - as well as several specific psychosocial factors - increased the likelihood of working beyond state pension age, both for those with physically active and seated work.Conclusion While high physical work demands was a barrier, a good psychosocial work environment seems to facilitate working beyond state pension age, also for those with physically active work.

AB - Objectives The demographic changes in Europe underline the need for an extension of working lives. This study investigates the importance of physical work demands and psychosocial work factors for working beyond the state pension age (65 years).Methods We combined data from three cohorts of the general working population in Denmark (DWECS 2005 and 2010, and DANES 2008), where actively employed workers aged 55-59 years replied to questionnaires about work environment and were followed until the age of 66 years in the Danish AMRun register of paid employment. Using logistic regression analyses, we calculated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between physical and psychosocial work factors and working beyond state pension age, adjusted for age, sex, cohort, cohabiting, sector, income, vocational education, working hours, lifestyle, and previous sickness absence.Results Of the 2884 workers aged 55-59 years, 1023 (35.5%) worked beyond the state pension age. Higher physical work demands was associated with a lower likelihood (PR 0.69, 95% CI 0.58-0.82) and a good psychosocial work environment was associated with higher likelihood (average of 7 items: PR 1.81, 95% CI 1.49-2.20) of working beyond state pension age. Stratified analyses did not change the overall pattern, ie, a good overall psychosocial work environment - as well as several specific psychosocial factors - increased the likelihood of working beyond state pension age, both for those with physically active and seated work.Conclusion While high physical work demands was a barrier, a good psychosocial work environment seems to facilitate working beyond state pension age, also for those with physically active work.

KW - health

KW - older worker

KW - physical work demand

KW - physical workload

KW - psychosocial

KW - retirement

KW - statutory retirement age

KW - RETIREMENT AGE

KW - ENVIRONMENT

KW - LIFE

U2 - 10.5271/sjweh.3904

DO - 10.5271/sjweh.3904

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 32463101

VL - 47

SP - 15

EP - 21

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health

SN - 0355-3140

IS - 1

ER -