Psychosocial working conditions and cognitive and physical impairment in older age.

ABSTRACT

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.