Working life job strain status and cognitive aging in Europe: A 12-year follow-up study
Year: 2021
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: To examine the association of job strain with cognitive ability and the influence of life-course job strain on later life cognitive decline. METHODS: Data were derived from six waves of the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe. The study sample consists of 13349 participants aged 50 to 98 years at wave 2 and has been followed up for 12-years. Job strain status across working life was assessed using a short demand-control job strain model containing two core dimensions: job demands and job control collected in wave 3. Cognitive abilities concerning episodic memory was assessed by immediate recall and delayed recall tests, executive function was evaluated by verbal fluency test collected in all waves (waves 2-7) except wave 3. Mixed-effects model was used to estimate working life job strain and its cumulative effect on cognitive decline. RESULTS: Both passive and high strain jobs were associated with lower levels of cognitive ability (episodic memory and verbal fluency) in comparison with active job. Long exposure to active- or low strain-job was associated with higher cognitive ability whereas long exposure to passive job or moderate duration of high strain job was associated with lower cognitive ability. The rate of memory decline was positively related to moderate duration of passive job and negatively related to long-term exposure to low strain job. LIMITATIONS: Information on working conditions was based on self-reported recollections. CONCLUSIONS: Working life variation in job strain status and their duration may explain individual differences in cognitive ability in later life.
Source: Journal of Affective Disorders
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,350
Funders: European Commission, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Vetenskapsrådet, Natural Science Foundation of Hainan Province, Forskningsrådet om Hälsa, Arbetsliv och Välfärd, National Institutes of Health, Sixth Framework Programme, Fifth Framework Programme, National Institute on Aging
Awards: G1485409107, G1565542540, G159251131, Psychosocial stress over the working career and cognitive dysfunction: Searching for an evidence base for the development of preventive strategies, G24207250, G2881429984, HEALTH AND ECONOMIC STATUS IN OLDER POPULATIONS, G4607009072, Growing older, working longer: the role of working conditions, Are brain structure and functional connectivity later in life influenced by midlife psychosocial work stress?, G751768989, DEVELOPING AN ISRAELI VERSION OF THE HRS/SHARE PROJECT, G765494255, G8794835400, RAND Center for the Study of Aging, Understanding and Improving Healthcare Decision-Making and Outcomes for People Living with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias, Health and Retirement Study: Yrs 35-40, G93458789
OpenAlex ID: W3198257155