PERCEIVED WORK CHANGES BETWEEN 1981 AND 1992 AMONG AGING WORKERS IN FINLAND

Objective Perceived changes in mental and physical work demands and wo rk content were evaluated longitudinally. Methods Municipal workers (N =924) in the same job from 1981 (mean age 47 years) to 1992 (mean age 58 years) in the work content groups of mental, mixed mental and physi cal, or physical work responded to a questionnaire in both 1981 and 19 92. Results The workers reported that the physical and mental demands of their jobs had mainly increased from 1981 to 1992, especially muscu lar work and use of knowledge. In 1992 the women still perceived highe r physical demands than the men but felt they had greater possibilitie s to develop. The use of knowledge had increased, especially among the women, and was on the same level for both genders. The perception of changes differed in the 3 work content groups. Conclusions Perceived w ork demands increase with age. Although the 3 work content categories differ somewhat as to perceived changes over time, in general, the cha nges may be more connected to personal factors than work factors. Olde r persons seem to work at a relatively higher capacity than younger wo rkers, and this higher work load may be a risk factor for early work d isability. Work demands and stress factors should therefore be surveye d and balanced according to the capacity of the aging worker. On the o ther hand, workers' perception of possibilities to develop seem to inc rease with age. The differences between men and women may especially d iminish at a later age.