Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T22:59:46.989Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effects of age on health problems that affect the capacity to work: an analysis of United Kingdom labour-force data

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 December 2009

IMANOL NUÑEZ
IMANOL NUÑEZ*
Affiliation:
Universidad Publica de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
*
Address for correspondence: Imanol Nuñez, Universidad Publica de Navarra, Gestion de empresas campus de arrosadia s/n, Pamplona, Navarra31008, Spain. E-mail: imanol.nunez@unavarra.es
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This study estimates the effect of increases in age on 16 health problems that affect paid work for men and women in the United Kingdom. The analysis is based on a sample of the United Kingdom household population from the Office for National Statistics Labour Force Survey of 2007. Using multinomial logit regressions, the results reveal considerable diversity in the relationships between age and the reported prevalence of health problems that affect work. In particular, problems with heart, blood and circulation, arms and hands, legs and feet were strongly related to age, while difficulties in seeing and hearing, skin conditions and allergies appeared not to be more prevalent among older workers than younger employees. Regarding gender differences, it was found that, in general, women's health-related ability to participate in work was less affected by age, but that they suffered particular problems with arms and hands, skin conditions, allergies and depression. Finally, the study analyses the non-linear effects of unit increases in age. Such analysis may usefully identify the ages (or inflection points) at which ageing intensifies its effects on occupational health. These findings point to the importance of intervention at the appropriate time, when preventive measures may avoid the exacerbation of the health problem.

Keywords

workhealth problemsgender differences
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 30 , Issue 3 , April 2010 , pp. 491 - 510
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Auer, P. and Fortuny, M. 2000. Ageing of the Labour Force in OECD Countries: Economic and Social Consequences. Employment Paper 2000/2, International Labour Organisation, Geneva.Google Scholar
Clark, A., Oswald, A. and Warr, P. 1996. Is job satisfaction U-shaped? Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 69, 1, 57–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clays, E., Leynen, F., De Bacquer, D., Kornitzer, M., Kittel, F. and Karasek, R. 2007. High job strain and ambulatory blood pressure in middle-aged men and women from the Belgian job stress study. Journal of Occupational Medicine, 49, 4, 360–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Czaja, S. J. and Sharit, J. 2003. Practically relevant research: capturing real world tasks, environments, and outcomes. The Gerontologist, 43, 1, 9–18.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
De Zwart, B. C. H., Broersen, J. P. J., Frings-Dressen, M. H. W. and Van Dijk, F. J. H. 1997. Musculoskeletal complaints in the Netherlands in relation to age, gender and physically demanding work. International Archives of Occupational Health and Industrial Medicine, 70, 5, 352–60.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Doyal, L. and Payne, S. 2006. Older Women, Work and Health: Reviewing the Evidence. Age and Employment Network and Help the Aged, London. Available online at http://www.taen.org.uk/Publications/Older%20women,%20Work%20and%20Health.pdf [Accessed 13 March 2009].Google Scholar
Duncan, C. 2008. The dangers and limitations of equality agendas as means for tackling old-age prejudice. Ageing & Society, 28, 8, 1133–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
European, Commission 2003. The European Union Labour Force Survey: Methods and Definitions – 2001. European Commission, Luxembourg.Google Scholar
Granville, G. and Evandrou, M. 2008. Older Men, Work and Health: Reviewing the Evidence. Age and Employment Network and Help the Aged, London.Google Scholar
Ilmarinen, J. 2001. Aging workers. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 58, 8, 546–52.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
International Labour Organisation (ILO) 2001. Promoting Decent Work for an Ageing Population: Actors, Partners and Corporate Social Responsibility. Background paper for the G8 high-level meeting on employment in Paris, ILO, Geneva. Available online at http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/skills/older/download/g8report.pdf [Accessed 13 March 2009].Google Scholar
Kowalski-Trakofler, K. M., Steiner, L. J. and Schwerha, D. J. 2005. Safety considerations for the ageing workforce. Safety Science, 43, 10, 779–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Laflamme, L. and Menckel, E. 1995. Ageing and occupational accidents: a review of the literature of the last three decades. Safety Science, 21, 2, 145–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Laslett, P. 1989. A Fresh Map of Life. Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London.Google Scholar
McMahan, S. and Phillips, K. 1999. America's ageing workforce: ergonomic solutions for reducing the risk of CTDs. American Journal of Health Studies, 15, 4, 199–202.Google Scholar
Messing, K. 1998. Sex, Gender and Womens' Occupational Research: The Importance of Considering Mechanism. Temple University Press, Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Messing, K. and Stellman, J. M. 2006. Sex, gender and women's occupational research: the importance of considering mechanism. Environmental Research, 101, 2, 149–62.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Musshauser, D., Bader, A., Wildt, B. and Hochleitner, M. 2006. The impact of sociodemographic factors vs gender roles on female hospital workers' health: do we need to shift emphasis? Journal of Occupational Health, 48, 5, 383–91.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nelson, D. and Burke, J. 2000. Gender, Work, and Health. American Psychological Association Books, Washington DC.Google Scholar
Ornato, J. P. and Hand, M. M. 2001. Warning signs of heart attack. Circulation, 104, 11, 1212–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pelfrene, E., De Backer, G., Mak, R., De Smet, P. and Kornitzer, M. 2002. Job stress and cardiovascular risk factors: results from the Belstress study. Archives of Public Health, 60, 3–4, 246–68.Google Scholar
Posner, R. A. 1995. Ageing and Old Age. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.Google Scholar
Rabbitt, P. and Lowe, C. 2000. Patterns of cognitive ageing. Psychological Research, 63, 3–4, 308–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rogowski, J. and Karoly, L. 2000. Health insurance and retirement behaviour: evidence from reentry behaviour. Journal of Health Economics, 19, 4, 529–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Salthouse, T. and Hambrick, D. 1999. Predictors of crossword puzzle proficiency of age cognition relations. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 128, 21, 131–64.Google Scholar
Strazdins, L. and Bammer, G. 2004. Women, work and musculoskeletal health. Social Science and Medicine, 58, 6, 997–1005.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ursel, N. D. and Amstrong-Stassen, M. 2007. How age discrimination in employment affects stockholders. Journal of Labor Research, 26, 1, 89–99.Google Scholar
Vitasalo, J., Era, P., Leskinen, A. and Heikkenen, E. 1985. Muscular strength profiles and anthropometry in random samples of men aged 31–35, 51–55 and 71–75. Ergonomics, 11, 3, 283–90.Google Scholar
Welford, A. T. 1958. Ageing and Human Skill. Oxford University Press, Oxford.Google Scholar
Whiting, E. 2005. The labour market participation of older people. Labour Market Trends, 112, 6, 285–96.Google Scholar