Job Strain and Trajectories of Cognitive Change Before and After Retirement

Functioning Changes in Varying Ways After Retirement: A Scoping Review

The association between retirement and functioning remains still poorly known. This scoping review examines physical, social, cognitive, and mental functioning after retirement, describes the changes in them, determines the different aspects that affect functioning, and documents the main characteristics of the phenomenon. We systematically scoped the relevant studies on functioning after retirement using CINAHL, MEDLINE, Medic, and PubMed databases. This scoping review included both qualitative and quantitative studies. The studies were analysed with inductive content analysis. After retirement, functioning was found to decline but also improve, and additionally, inequalities in functioning emerged. Functioning after retirement changed in ways which were: declining functioning, improving functioning, and inequalities in functioning. Only a few qualitative studies were found. This scoping review shows that functioning after retirement changes in varying ways. The results show that more qualitative research is needed to help us gain a more profound understanding on, for example, individuals' motives to improve leisure, physical, and social activities after retirement, which are likely to contribute to changes in functioning. Additionally, further longitudinal studies would offer knowledge about the long-term effects of retirement on the different dimensions of functioning.

Psychosocial working conditions and cognitive and physical impairment in older age

BACKGROUND

Psychosocial working conditions are associated with cognitive and physical impairments. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between mid-late life psychosocial working conditions and the combination of physical and cognitive impairment among older adults, and the potential sex differences in these associations.

METHODS

Data were derived from two Swedish nationally representative surveys (n = 839; follow-up: 20-24 years). Multinomial and binary logistic regressions assessed the associations between work stressors (job demand-control model), and a combination of cognitive and physical impairment.

RESULTS

Low control jobs were significantly associated with higher odds of cognitive (OR: 1.41, CI: 1.15-1.72) and physical impairment (OR: 1.23, CI: 1.02-1.47), and cognitive and physical impairment combined (OR: 1.50, CI: 1.19-1.89). Passive jobs (low control, low demand) were associated with higher odds of cognitive impairment (OR: 1.57, CI: 1.12-2.20), and combined cognitive and physical impairment (OR: 1.59, CI: 1.07-2.36). Active jobs (high control, high demand) were associated with lower odds of cognitive impairment (OR: 0.48, CI: 0.29-0.80). Sex-stratified analyses showed stronger associations among men; passive jobs were associated with both cognitive (OR: 2.18, CI: 1.31-3.63) and physical impairment (OR: 1.78, CI: 1.13-2.81), while low strain jobs were associated with less physical impairment (OR: 0.55, CI: 0.33-0.89). No significant associations between work stressors and impairment were found for women.

CONCLUSIONS

These results highlight the importance of psychosocial working conditions for late-life physical and cognitive impairment, especially among men. Jobs characterised by low control and low demands are associated with higher risk for impairments.

Association of mental demands in the workplace with cognitive function in older adults at increased risk for dementia

Objectives

Growing evidence suggests a protective effect of high mental demands at work on cognitive function in later life. However, evidence on corresponding associations in older adults at increased risk for dementia is currently lacking. This study investigates the association between mental demands at work and cognitive functioning in the population of the AgeWell.de-trial.

Methods

Cross-sectional investigation of the association between global cognitive functioning (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) and mental demands at work in older individuals at increased risk for dementia (Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE)score ≥ 9; n = 941, age: 60–77 years). Occupational information was matched to Occupational Information Network (O*NET)-descriptors. Associations between cognitive function and O*NET-indices executive, verbal and novelty were investigated using generalized linear models.

Results

Higher values of index verbal (b = .69, p = .002) were associated with better cognitive function when adjusting for covariates. No association was observed for indices executive (b = .37, p = .062) and novelty (b = .45, p = .119). Higher education, younger age, and employment were linked to better cognitive function, while preexisting medical conditions did not change the associations. Higher levels of depressive symptomatology were associated with worse cognitive function.

Conclusions

Higher levels of verbal demands at work were associated with better cognitive function for older adults with increased dementia risk. This suggests an advantage for older persons in jobs with high mental demands even after retirement and despite prevalent risk factors. Longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm these results and evaluate the potential of workplaces to prevent cognitive decline through increased mental demands.

Life-course trajectories of working conditions and successful ageing

Aims:

As populations are ageing worldwide, it is important to identify strategies to promote successful ageing. We investigate how working conditions throughout working life are associated with successful ageing in later life.

Methods:

Data from two nationally representative longitudinal Swedish surveys were linked (n=674). In 1991, respondents were asked about their first occupation, occupations at ages 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 years and their last recorded occupation. Occupations were matched with job exposure matrices to measure working conditions at each of these time points. Random effects growth curve models were used to calculate intra-individual trajectories of working conditions. Successful ageing, operationalised using an index including social and leisure activity, cognitive and physical function and the absence of diseases, was measured at follow-up in 2014 (age 70 years and older). Multivariable ordered logistic regressions were used to assess the association between trajectories of working conditions and successful ageing.

Results:

Intellectually stimulating work; that is, substantive complexity, in the beginning of one’s career followed by an accumulation of more intellectually stimulating work throughout working life was associated with higher levels of successful ageing. In contrast, a history of stressful, hazardous or physically demanding work was associated with lower levels of successful ageing.

Conclusions:

Promoting a healthy workplace, by supporting intellectually stimulating work and reducing physically demanding and stressful jobs, may contribute to successful ageing after retirement. In particular, it appears that interventions early in one’s employment career could have positive, long-term effects.