Safety and Health at Work

Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (산업안전보건연구원)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Cognitive Ability in Midlife and Labor Market Participation Among Older Workers: Prospective Cohort Study With Register Follow-up

  • Sundstrup, Emil (National Research Centre for the Working Environment) ;
  • Hansen, Ase M. (National Research Centre for the Working Environment) ;
  • Mortensen, Erik L. (Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen) ;
  • Poulsen, Otto M. (National Research Centre for the Working Environment) ;
  • Clausen, Thomas (National Research Centre for the Working Environment) ;
  • Rugulies, Reiner (National Research Centre for the Working Environment) ;
  • Moller, Anne (Department of Occupational Medicine, Copenhagen University Holbaek) ;
  • Andersen, Lars L. (National Research Centre for the Working Environment)
  • Received : 2018.10.11
  • Accepted : 2020.06.23
  • Published : 2020.09.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Background: The study aimed to determine the association of individual cognitive ability in late midlife with labor market participation among older workers. Methods: This prospective cohort study estimates the risk of long-term sickness absence, disability pension, early retirement, and unemployment from scores on the Intelligenz-Struktur-Test 2000R by combining data from 5076 workers from the Copenhagen Aging and Midlife Biobank with a register on social transfer payments. Analyses were stepwise adjusted for age, gender, physical and psychosocial work environment, health behaviors, occupational social class, education, and chronic diseases. Results: In the fully adjusted model, low cognitive ability (≥1 standard deviation below the mean for each gender) and high cognitive ability (≥1 standard deviation above the mean for each gender) were not associated with risk of any of the four labor market outcomes. Conclusion: Individual cognitive ability in late midlife was not associated with risk of long-term sickness absence, disability pension, early retirement, and unemployment in the fully adjusted model. Thus, no direct effect of individual cognitive ability in late midlife was observed on the risk of permanently or temporarily leaving the labor market.

Keywords

References

  1. Boss GR, Seegmiller JE. Age-related physiological changes and their clinical significance. West J Med 1981;135:434-40.
  2. Newton RU, Hakkinen K, Hakkinen A, McCormick M, Volek J, Kraemer WJ. Mixed-methods resistance training increases power and strength of young and older men. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2002;34:1367-75. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200208000-00020
  3. Salthouse T. Consequences of age-related cognitive declines. Annu Rev Psychol 2012;63:201-26. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-120710-100328
  4. Schaie KW. Developmental influences on adult intelligence: the seattle longitudinal study. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2013.
  5. Deary IJ, Corley J, Gow AJ, Harris SE, Houlihan LM, Marioni RE, Penke L, Rafnsson SB, Starr JM. Age-associated cognitive decline. Br Med Bull 2009;92:135-52. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldp033
  6. Mortensen EL, Flensborg-Madsen T, Molbo D, Fagerlund B, Christensen U, Lund R, Osler M, Avlund K. The relationship between cognitive ability and demographic factors in late midlife. J Aging Health 2014;26:37-53. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264313508780
  7. Singh-Manoux A, Kivimaki M, Glymour MM, Elbaz A, Berr C, Ebmeier KP, Ferrie JE, Dugravot A. Timing of onset of cognitive decline: results from Whitehall II prospective cohort study. BMJ 2012;344 d7622-d7622. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d7622
  8. Hunt E, Madhyastha TM. Cognitive demands of the workplace. J Neurosci Psychol Econ 2012;5:18-37. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0026177
  9. Ilmarinen JE. Aging workers. Occup Environ Med 2001;58. 546-546. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.58.8.546
  10. Nexo MA, Meng A, Borg V. Can psychosocial work conditions protect against age-related cognitive decline? Results from a systematic review. Occup Environ Med 2016;73:487-96. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2016-103550
  11. Hansen AM, Andersen LL, Skotte J, Christensen U, Mortensen OS, Molbo D, Lund R, Nilsson CJ, Avlund K. Social class differences in physical functions in middle-aged men and women. J Aging Health 2014;26:88-105. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264313508188
  12. Zammit S, Allebeck P, David AS, Dalman C, Hemmingsson T, Lundberg I, Lewis G. A longitudinal study of premorbid IQ score and risk of developing Schizophrenia,Bipolar disorder, severe depression, and other nonaffective psychoses. Arch Gen Psychiatr 2004;61:354. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.61.4.354
  13. Hart CL, Taylor MD, Davey Smith G, Whalley LJ, Starr JM, Hole DJ, Wilson V, Deary IJ. Childhood IQ, social class, deprivation, and their relationships with mortality and morbidity risk in later life: prospective observational study linking the Scottish Mental Survey 1932 and the Midspan studies. Psychosom Med 2003;65:877-83. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.PSY.0000088584.82822.86
  14. Calvin CM, Deary IJ, Fenton C, Roberts BA, Der G, Leckenby N, Batty GD. Intelligence in youth and all-cause-mortality: systematic review with metaanalysis. Int J Epidemiol 2011;40:626-44. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyq190
  15. Christensen GT, Mortensen EL, Christensen K, Osler M. Intelligence in young adulthood and cause-specific mortality in the Danish Conscription Database - a cohort study of 728,160 men. Intelligence 2016;59:64-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2016.08.001
  16. Christensen GT, Osler M, Madsen M, McGue M, Mortensen EL, Christensen K. The influence of familial factors on the intelligence-mortality association - a twin approach. Intelligence 2017;64:60-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2017.07.005
  17. Urfer-Parnas A, Lykke Mortensen E, Saebye D, Parnas J. Pre-morbid IQ in mental disorders: a Danish draft-board study of 7486 psychiatric patients. Psychol Med 2010;40:547. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291709990754
  18. Sorberg A, Lundin A, Allebeck P, Melin B, Falkstedt D, Hemmingsson T. Cognitive ability in late adolescence and disability pension in middle age: follow-up of a national cohort of Swedish males. PloS One 2013;8 e78268. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0078268
  19. Upmark M, Lundberg I, Sadigh J, Bigert C. Conditions during childhood and adolescence as explanations of social class differences in disability pension among young men. Scand J Publ Health 2001;29:96-103. https://doi.org/10.1080/14034940152393354
  20. Gravseth HM, Bjerkedal T, Irgens LM, Aalen OO, Selmer R, Kristensen P. Influence of physical, mental and intellectual development on disability in young Norwegian men. Eur J Publ Health 2008;18:650-5. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckn055
  21. Henderson M, Richards M, Stansfeld S, Hotopf M. The association between childhood cognitive ability and adult long-term sickness absence in three British birth cohorts: a cohort study. BMJ Open 2012;2 e000777. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000777
  22. Fergusson DM, Horwood LJ, Ridder EM. Show me the child at seven II: childhood intelligence and later outcomes in adolescence and young adulthood. J Child Psychol Psychiatr 2005;46:850-8. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2005.01472.x
  23. Belbase A, Khan MR, Munnel AH, Webb A. Slowed or sidelined? The effect of "normal" cognitive decline on job performance among the elderly. Center for Retirement Research at Boston College; 2015.
  24. Stafford M, Cooper R, Cadar D, Carr E, Murray E, Richards M, Stansfeld S, Zaninotto P, Head J, Kuh D. Physical and cognitive capability in mid-adulthood as determinants of retirement and extended working life in a British cohort study. Scand J Work Environ Health 2017;43:15-23. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3589
  25. Hultin H, Lindholm C, Malfert M, Moller J. Short-term sick leave and future risk of sickness absence and unemployment - the impact of health status. BMC Public Health 2012;12:861. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-861
  26. Borg K, Hensing G, Alexanderson K. Predictive factors for disability pension- an 11-year follow up of young persons on sick leave due to neck, shoulder, or back diagnoses. Scand J Publ Health 2001;29:104-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/14034940152393363
  27. Virtanen M. Sickness absence as a risk factor for job termination, unemployment, and disability pension among temporary and permanent employees. Occup Environ Med 2006;63:212-7. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2005.020297
  28. van den Berg TIJ, Elders LAM, Burdorf A. Influence of health and work on early retirement. J Occup Environ Med Am Coll Occup Environ Med 2010;52:576-83. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181de8133
  29. Jensen LD, Ryom PK, Christensen MV, Andersen JH. Differences in risk factors for voluntary early retirement and disability pension: a 15-year follow-up in a cohort of nurses' aides. BMJ Open 2012;2(6):e000991. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2012-000991. Epub ahead of print.
  30. Osler M, Lund R, Kriegbaum M, Christensen U, Andersen AM. Cohort profile: the Metropolit 1953 Danish male birth cohort. Int J Epidemiol 2006;35:541-5. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyi300
  31. Zachau-Christiansen B. Development during the first year of life. Helsingor, Denmark: Poul AndersensForlag; 1972.
  32. Christensen U, Lund R, Damsgaard MT, Holstein BE, Ditlevsen S, Diderichsen F, Due P, Iversen L, Lynch J. Cynical hostility, socioeconomic position, health behaviors, and symptom load: a cross-sectional analysis in a Danish population-based study. Psychosom Med 2004;66:572-7. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000126206.35683.d1
  33. Avlund K, Osler M, Mortensen EL, Christensen U, Bruunsgaard H, Holm-Pedersen P, Fiehn NE, Hansen AM, Bachkati SH, Meincke RH, Jepsen E, Molbo D, Lund R. Copenhagen aging and midlife Biobank (CAMB): an introduction. J Aging Health 2014;26:5-20. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264313509277
  34. Sundstrup E, Hansen AM, Mortensen EL, Poulsen OM, Clausen T, Rugulies R, Moller A, Andersen LL. Influence of physical and psychosocial work environment throughout life and physical and cognitive capacity in midlife on labor market attachment among older workers: study protocol for a prospective cohort study. BMC Public Health 2016;16:629. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3290-8
  35. Sundstrup E, Hansen AM, Mortensen EL, Poulsen OM, Clausen T, Rugulies R, Moller A, Andersen LL. Cumulative occupational mechanical exposures during working life and risk of sickness absence and disability pension: prospective cohort study. Scand J Work Environ Health 2017;43:415-25. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3663
  36. Sundstrup E, Hansen AM, Mortensen EL, Poulsen OM, Clausen T, Rugulies R, Moller A, Andersen LL. Retrospectively assessed physical work environment during working life and risk of sickness absence and labour market exit among older workers. Occup Environ Med 2017. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2016-104279. Epub ahead of print August 17.
  37. Sundstrup E, Hansen AM, Mortensen EL, Poulsen OM, Clausen T, Rugulies R, Moller A, Andersen LL. Retrospectively assessed psychosocial working conditions as predictors of prospectively assessed sickness absence and disability pension among older workers. BMC Public Health 2018;18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5047-z. Epub ahead of print December.
  38. von Elm E, Altman DG, Egger M, Pocock SJ, Gotzsche PC, Vandenbroucke JP, STROBE Initiative. Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. BMJ 2007;335:806-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39335.541782.AD
  39. Amthauer R, Brocke B, Liepmann D, Beauducel A. I-S-T2000R. Intelligenz-Struktur-Test 2000 R. Gottingen, Germany: Hogrefe-Verlag GmbH & Co. KG.; 2001.
  40. Hjollund NH, Larsen FB, Andersen JH. Register-based follow-up of social benefits and other transfer payments: accuracy and degree of completeness in a Danish interdepartmental administrative database compared with a population-based survey. Scand J Publ Health 2007;35:497-502. https://doi.org/10.1080/14034940701271882
  41. Pedersen J, Bjorner JB, Burr H, Christensen KB. Transitions between sickness absence, work, unemployment, and disability in Denmark 2004-2008. Scand J Work Environ Health 2012;38:516-26. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3293
  42. Pejtersen JH, Kristensen TS, Borg V, Bjorner JB. The second version of the copenhagen psychosocial questionnaire. Scand J Publ Health 2010;38:8-24. https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494809349858
  43. Moller A, Reventlow S, Hansen AM, Andersen LL, Siersma V, Lund R, Avlund K, Andersen JH, Mortensen OS. Does a history of physical exposures at work affect hand-grip strength in midlife? A retrospective cohort study in Denmark. Scand J Work Environ Health 2013;39:599-608. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3368
  44. Christensen U, Krolner R, Nilsson CJ, Lyngbye PW, Hougaard CO, Nygaard E, Thielen K, Holstein BE, Avlund K, Lund R. Addressing social inequality in aging by the Danish occupational social class measurement. J Aging Health 2014;26:106-27. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264314522894
  45. Andersen LL, Clausen T, Persson R, Holtermann A. Dose-response relation between perceived physical exertion during healthcare work and risk of longterm sickness absence. Scand J Work Environ Health 2012;38(6):582-9. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3310.
  46. Andersen LL, Mortensen OS, Hansen JV, Burr H. A prospective cohort study on severe pain as a risk factor for long-term sickness absence in blue- and whitecollar workers. Occup Environ Med 2011;68:590-2. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2010.056259
  47. Osler M, Avlund K, Mortensen EL. Socio-economic position early in life, cognitive development and cognitive change from young adulthood to middle age. Eur J Publ Health 2013;23:974-80. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cks140
  48. van der Wel KA, Dahl E, Thielen K. Social inequalities in "sickness": does welfare state regime type make a difference? A multilevel analysis of men and women in 26 European countries. Int J Health Serv Plan Adm Eval 2012;42:235-55. https://doi.org/10.2190/HS.42.2.f
  49. Burr H, Pedersen J, Hansen JV. Work environment as predictor of long-term sickness absence: linkage of self-reported DWECS data with the DREAM register. Scand J Publ Health 2011;39:147-52.
  50. Henderson M, Hotopf M, Leon DA. Childhood temperament and long-term sickness absence in adult life. Br J Psychiatr J Ment Sci 2009;194:220-3. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.107.044271
  51. Mortensen EL, Barefoot JC, Avlund K. Do depressive traits and hostility predict age-related decline in general intelligence? J Aging Res 2012;2012:973121. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/973121
  52. Warren JR, Hoonakker P, Carayon P, Brand J. Job characteristics as mediators in SES-health relationships. Soc Sci Med 2004;59:1367-78. 1982. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.01.035
  53. Strenze T. Intelligence and socioeconomic success: a meta-analytic review of longitudinal research. Intelligence 2007;35:401-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2006.09.004

Cited by

  1. O cenário do mercado de trabalho para idosos e a violência sofrida vol.24, pp.6, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1590/1981-22562020024.210022
  2. Unemployment and general cognitive ability: A review and meta-analysis vol.87, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2021.102430