AGING, WORK, LIFE-STYLE AND WORK ABILITY AMONG FINNISH MUNICIPAL WORKERS IN 1981-1992

Objectives This study was designed to explain changes in work ability through occupational and life-style factors. Methods Work ability was measured by an index describing workers' health resources in regard to their work demands. The work factors mainly included physical and men tal demands, social organization and the physical work environment. Th e life-style factors covered smoking, alcohol consumption, and leisure -time physical exercise. The first questionnaire study was done in 198 1 and it was repeated in 1992. The subjects (N = 818) were workers in the 44- to 51-year-old age group in the beginning of the study who wer e active during the entire follow-up. The improvement and, correspondi ngly, the decline in work ability were analyzed by logistic regression models. Results Both the improvement and the decline in work ability were associated more strongly with changes in work and life-style duri ng the follow-up than with their initial variation. The model for impr oved work ability included improvement of the supervisor's attitude, d ecreased repetitive movements at work, and increased amount of vigorou s leisure-time physical exercise. Deterioration in work ability was ex plained by a model which included a decrease in recognition and esteem at work, decrease in workroom conditions, increase in standing at wor k, and decrease in vigorous leisure-time physical exercise. Conclusion s social relations at work can promote or impair the work ability of e lderly workers. Although the work ability of elderly workers generally declined with aging, both older and younger workers were also able to improve their work ability.