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International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
Published in: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine 2/2016

01-04-2016

Perceived Work Ability in the Light of Long-Term and Stress-Related Unhealthy Behaviors—a Prospective Cohort Study

Authors: Nina Nevanperä, Jorma Seitsamo, Leena Ala-Mursula, Jouko Remes, Leila Hopsu, Juha Auvinen, Tuija Tammelin, Marjo-Riitta Järvelin, Jaana Laitinen

Published in: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 2/2016

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Abstract

Background

Most of the few studies that exist on the longitudinal associations between health behaviors and work ability target to single health behaviors.

Purpose

To investigate how lifetime clusters of unhealthy behaviors associate with perceived work ability in early midlife.

Methods

The study population consisted of 46-year-old men and women (n = 3107) born in Northern Finland in 1966. Their current perceived work ability compared to lifetime best, and their unhealthy behaviors (physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol consumption) were assessed by questionnaires. We determined clusters of unhealthy behaviors at the ages of 14, 31, and 46 and created lifetime development trajectories of health behaviors. We also assessed stress-related eating and drinking at the ages of 31 and 46.
Cross-tabulations and multivariate logistic regression models were used to investigate the associations between clusters of health behaviors, stress-related eating and drinking, and work ability at 46 years. The analyses were controlled for basic education and physical strenuousness of work, psychosocial job characteristics, perceived work ability, and BMI (kg/m2) at 31 years.

Results

Four health behavior trajectories emerged: always healthy, moderate (reference group), deteriorated. and always unhealthy. Among men, always unhealthy behaviors [OR (95 % confidence interval) 2.81 (1.35, 5.86)], and among women, deteriorated health behaviors [1.67 (1.07, 2.58)] associated with poor perceived work ability at 46 years. In addition, stress-related eating and drinking associated independently with poor perceived work ability at 46 years [men 2.58 (1.62, 4.12) and women 2.48 (1.70, 3.61)].

Conclusion

Long-lasting and stress-related unhealthy behaviors increase the risk of poor work ability in midlife.
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Metadata
Title
Perceived Work Ability in the Light of Long-Term and Stress-Related Unhealthy Behaviors—a Prospective Cohort Study
Authors
Nina Nevanperä
Jorma Seitsamo
Leena Ala-Mursula
Jouko Remes
Leila Hopsu
Juha Auvinen
Tuija Tammelin
Marjo-Riitta Järvelin
Jaana Laitinen
Publication date
01-04-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 2/2016
Print ISSN: 1070-5503
Electronic ISSN: 1532-7558
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-015-9512-0

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