Quality of life in aging process: the role of work-related psychosocial conditions and social support
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21134/pssa.v11i1.304Keywords:
Work related psychosocial conditions; social support; quality of life; working status; retirement; intervention needsAbstract
Aging has been a growing source of increased opportunities raised by longevity, but also a growing source of concern,particularly with regard to the mental health and the well-being of elderly people. As such, it is highly relevant to have a better understanding of the relationship between workplace related psychosocial factors and quality of life, not only among working population, but also among retired individuals.
The main objective of this study is to better understand and characterize the relation between quality of life (QoL), work-related psychosocial conditions, and social support for both working and retired adults. Participants were 1.330, 62.2% of which female, with ages ranging between 55 and 75 years old. 47% of the respondents were working and 46 % were retired. Three structural equation models were tested, using the total sample and by labor situation (working and retired). The results showed that the stress management (with a greater effect in retired participants) and the social support (with a greater effect in working participants) have a positive influence on the QoL factor. Better work-related psychosocial conditions and higher social support were predictors of higher/better QoL. Our study allowed us to conclude that QoL is influenced by working situation, social support and work-related psychosocial conditions. This is a powerful message to policy makers in view of the growth of older populations.
Downloads
References
Aboim, S. (2003). Evolução das estruturas domésticas [Evolution of domestic structures]. Sociologia, Problemas e Práticas, 43, 13-30.
Adams, G., Garcia, D. M., Purdie-Vaughns, V., & Steele, C. M. (2006). The detrimental effects of a suggestion of sexism in an instruction situation. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 42, 602615. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2005.10.004.
Amado, C. A. F., São José, J. M. S. & Santos, S. P. (2016). Measuring active ageing: A data envelopment analysis approach. European Journal of Operational Research, 255(1), 1-17. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2016.04.048.
Azar, A., Staudinger, U. M., Slachevsky, A., Madero-Cabib, I., & Calvo, E. (2019). From snapshots to movies: The association between retirement sequences and aging trajectories in limitations to perform activities of daily living. Journal of Aging and Health, 31(2), 293-321. http://doi.org/10.1177/0898264318782096.
Behncke, S. (2012). Does retirement trigger ill health? Health economics, 21(3), 282-300. http://doi.org/10.1002/hec.1712.
Blekesaune, M., & Solem, P. E. (2005). Working conditions and early retirement: A prospective study of retirement behavior. Research on Aging, 27(1), 3-30. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027504271438.
BNQ. (2018). Psychological health and safety in the workplace: prevention, promotion, and guidance to staged implementation. Bureau de normalization du Québec.
Bousquet, J., Kuh, D., Bewick, M., Standberg, T., Farrell, J., Pengelly, R., Joel, M. E., Rodriguez Mañas, Mercier, L. J., Bringer,J., Camuzat, T., Bourret, R., Bedbrook, A., Kowalski, M. L., Samolinski, B., Bonini, S., Brayne, C., Michel, J. P., Venne, J. ... Zins -Show, M. (2015). Operational definition of active and healthy ageing (AHA): a conceptual framework. The journal of nutrition, health & aging, 19(9), 955-960. http://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-015-0589-6.
Bradley, L., McDonald, P., & Cox, S. (2019). The critical role of co-worker involvement: An extended measure of the workplace environment to su-pport work–life balance. Journal of Management & Organization, 1-22. http://doi.org/10.1017/jmo.2019.65.
Burton, J. (2010). WHO healthy Workplaces Framework and Model: Background and Supporting Literature and Practice. World Health Organization.
Byles, J., Tavener, M., Robinson, I., Parkinson, L., Smith, P. W., Stevenson, D., Leigh, L & Curryer, C. (2013). Transforming retirement: New definitions of life after work. Journal of women & aging, 25(1), 24-44. http://doi.org/10.1080/08952841.2012.717855.
Cabral, M. V. Ferreira, P. M. (2014). Envelhecimento ativo em Portugal. Trabalho, reforma, lazer e redes sociais [Active aging in Portugal. Work, retirement, leisure and social networks]. Lisboa: Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos.
Canavarro, M. C. Simões, M. R., Vaz Serra, A., Pereira, M., Rijo, D., Quartilho, M. J., Gameiro, S., Paredes, T, & Carona, C. (2007). WHOQOL-BREF: Instrumento de Avaliação da Qualidade de Vida da Organização Mundial de Saúde [World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument]. In, M. Simões, C. Machado, M. Gonçalves, & L. Almeida (Eds.) Avaliação psicológica. Instrumentos validados para a população Portuguesa, vol. III (pp. 77-100). Quarteto Editora.
Clarke, M. A., & Hill, S. R. (2012). Promoting employee wellbeing and quality service outcomes: The role of HRM practices. Journal of Management & Organization, 18(5), 702-713. http://doi.org/10.1017/S1833367200000626.
Davezies, P. H. (1998). De la récupération psychique [Psychic recovery]. Santé et Travail, 25, 35-3 7.
Davies, E., & Cartwright, S. (2011). Psychological and psychosocial predictors of attitudes to working past normal retirement age. Employee Relations, 33(3), 249-268. http://doi.org/10.1108/01425451111121768.
Dejours, C. (2000). Travail, usure mental [Work, mental wear]. Bayard Éditions.Dejours, C. (2011). Psicopatologia do trabalho – Psicodinâmica do Trabalho [Work psychopathology – Work psychodynamics. Laboreal, 7(1), 13-16. http://laboreal.up.pt/revista/artigo.php?id=37t45nSU5471124227847824511.
Donaldson, S. I., & Ko, I. (2010). Positive organizational psychology, behavior, and scholarship: A review of the emerging literature and evidence base.The Journal of Positive Psychology, 5(3), 177-19 1. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439761003790930.
Eisapareh, K., Nazari, M., Kaveh, M. H., & Ghahremani, L. (2020). The relationship between job stress and health literacy with the quality of work life among Iranian industrial workers: The moderating role of social support. Current Psychology, 1-9. http://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00782-5.
Eurofound (2015). Sexto Inquérito Europeu sobre as Condições de Trabalho. Retrieved from https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pt/data/euro-pean-working-conditions-survey.
European Commission. (2015). The 2015 Ageing Report - Economic and budgetary projections for the 28 EU Member States (2016-2070). Publications Office of the European Union.
Farriol-Baroni, V., González-García, L., Luque-García, A., Postigo-Zegarra, S., & Pérez-Ruiz, S. (2021). Influence of Social Support and Subjective Well-Being on the Perceived Overall Health of the Elderly.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(10), 5438. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105438.
Friedman, E. M., Ruini, C., Foy, R., Jaros, L., Sampson, H., & Ryff, C. D. (2017). Lighten UP! A community-based group intervention to promote psychological well-being in older adults. Aging & mental health, 21(2), 199-205. http://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2015.1093605.
Frisch, M. B. (1998). Quality of life therapy and assessment in health care.Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 5(1), 19–40. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2850.1998.tb00132.x.
Gagné, M., & Deci, E. L. (2005). Self-determi-nation theory and work motivation.Journal of Organizational behavior, 26(4), 331-362. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.322.
Gaillard, M. & Desmette, D. (2010). (In)validating Stereotypes About Older Workers Influences Their Intentions to Retire Early and to Learn and Develop. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 32(1), 86-98. http://doi.org/10.1080/01973530903435763.
Gaspar, T., Cabrita, T., Rebelo, A. & Matos M. (2017). Psychological and Social Factors That Influence Quality of Life: Gender, Age and Professional Status Differences. Psychology Research, 7,(9), 489-498. http://doi.org/10.17265/2159-5542/2017.09.003.
Gómez-Baya, D., & Lucia-Casademunt, A. M. (2018). A self-determination theory approach to health and well-being in the workplace: Results from the sixth European working conditions survey in Spain. Journal of Applied Social Psycho-logy, 48(5), 269-283. https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12511.
Halvorsrud, L. & Kalfoss, M. (2007). The con-eptualization and measurement of quality of life in older adults: a review of empirical studies published during 1994-2006. European Journal of Ageing, 4, 229-246. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-007-0063-3.
Hershey, D. A., & Henkens, K. (2013). Impact of different types of retirement transitions on perceived satisfaction with life. The Gerontologist, 54(2), 232-244. http://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnt006.
Illario, M., Vollenbroek-Hutten, M. M., Molloy, D. W., Menditto, E., Iaccarino, G., & Eklund, P. (2016). Active and healthy ageing and independent living 2016. Journal of aging research, 2016. http://doi.org/10.1155/2016/8062079.
Koch S.C., Müller, S. M., Sieverding, & M. (2008). Women and computers: Effects of stereotype threat on attribution of failure. Computers & Education, 51, 1795–1803. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2008.05.007.
Kossen, C., & Pedersen, C. (2008). Older wor-kers in Australia: The myths, the realities and the battle over workforce ‘flexibility’. Journal of Management & Organization, 14(1), 73-84. http://doi.org/10.1017/S1833367200003485.
Kristensen, T. S., Hannerz, H., Hogh, A., & Borg, V. (2005). The Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire - a tool for the assessment and improvement of the psychosocial work environment. Scandinavian journal of work environment and health, 31(6), 438-449.
Kulik, C., Perera, S. & Cregan, C. (2016). Engage me: The mature-age worker and stereotype threat. The Academy of Management Journal, 59(6), 1-57. http://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2015.0564.
LaRocca, M. A., & Scogin, F. R. (2015). The Effect of Social Support on Quality of Life in Older Adults Receiving Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Clinical gerontologist, 38(2), 131–148.
Lee, Y., Chi, I., & Palinkas, L. A. (2018). Retirement, leisure activity engagement, and cognition among older adults in the United States. Jour-nal of Aging and Health, 31(7), 1-23. http://doi.org/10.1177/0898264318767030.
Liu, D., Xi, J., Hall, B. J., Fu, M., Zhang, B., Guo, J., & Feng, X. (2020). Attitudes toward aging, social support and depression among older adults: Difference by urban and rural areas in China. Journal of Affective Disorders, 274, 85-92. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.05.052.
Low, G., Molzahn, A. E., & Kalfoss, M. (2008). Quality of life of older adults in Canada and Norway: Examining the Iowa model. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 30(4), 458–476. http://doi.org/10.1177/0193945907305675.
Malinen, S. & Johnston, L. (2013). Workpla-ce ageism: discovering hidden bias. Experimental Aging Research, 39, 445-465. http://doi.org/10.1080/0361073X.2013.808111.
Mari, F. R., Alves, G. G., Aerts, D. R. G. S. & Câmara, S. (2016). O processo de envelhecimento e a saúde: o que pensam as pessoas de meia-idade sobre o tema [The aging process and health: what middle-aged people think about the topic]. Revista Brasileira de Geriatria e Gerontologia, 19(1), 35-44. http://doi.org/10.1590/1809-9823.2016.14122.
Marques, E. M. B. G. Sánchez, C. S. & Vicario, B. P. (2014). Perception of the quality of life of a group of older people. Revista de Enfermagem Referência, 4(1), 73-81.
Nilsen, C., Darin-Mattsson, A., Hyde, M., & Wastesson, J. W. (2021). Life-course trajectories of working conditions and successful aging. Scandinavian journal of public health, 14034948211013279. http://doi.org/10.1177/14034948211013279.
Puchol, A. S., del Río, B. M., de Limia Ramírez, K. R., Gil, G. B., & Zaragoza, F. A. M. (2013). Factores de riesgo psicosocial laboral y burnout en función de la categoría profesional [Psychosocial risk factors at work and burnout depending on the occupational category].Revista de Psicología de la Salud, 1(1), 74-93. https://doi.org/10.21134/pssa.v1i1.885.
Quiñones, M., & Porras, N. (2019). Riesgos psicosociales intra y extra laborales en una empresa de seguridad privada de Bogotá [Intra psychosocial risks and extra labor in a Bogota private security company]. Revista de psicología de la salud, 7(1), 152-181.
Rabl, T. (2010). “Age, discrimination, and achievement motives”, Personnel Review, 39(4), 448 – 467. http://doi.org/10.1108/00483481011045416.
Ribeiro, J.L. , P. (1999). Escala de satisfação com o suporte social (ESSS) [Social support satisfaction scale]. Análise Psicológica, 3(17), 547-558.
Salanova, M., Llorens, S., & Martínez, I. M. (2016). Aportaciones desde la Psicología Organizacional Positiva para desarrollar organizaciones saludables y resilientes. [Contributions from Positive Organizational Psychology to develop healthy and resilient organizations]. Papeles Del Psicólogo, 37, 177–184. http://www.papelesdelpsicolo-go.es/pdf/2773.pdf.
Shultz K., Wang M. (2011). Psychological perspectives on the changing nature of retirement. American Psychologist, 66, 170–179. http://doi.org/10.1037/a0022411.
Silva, C., Amaral, V., Pereira, A., Bem-haja, P., Pereira, A., Rodrigues, V., Cotrim, V., Silvério, T., & Nossa, P. (2011). Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire. Portugal e Países Africanos de Língua Oficial Portuguesa [Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire. Portugal and Portuguese-speaking African Countries]. Departamento de Educação, Universidade de Aveiro.
Smith J. L., Sansone, C., & White, P. H (2007). The stereotyped task engagement process: The role of interest and achievement motivation. Journal of Educational Psychology, 99(1), 99–114. http://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.99.1.99.
Stephens, C., Alpass, F., Towers, A., & Steven-son, B. (2011). The effects of types of social networks, perceived social support, and loneliness on the health of older people: Accounting for the social context. Journal of Aging and Health, 23(6), 887-911. http://doi.org/10.1177/0898264311400189.
Teiger, C. (1995). Penser les relations âge/travail au cours du temps [Thinking about age / work relationships over time]. In Jean-Claude Marquié, Dominique Paumès e Serge Volkoff (Eds.), Le travail au fil de l’âge (pp. 15-72). Octares Éditions.
Thébaud-Mony, A., Davezies, Ph., Vogel, L. & Volkoff, S. (2015).Les risques du travail. Pour ne pas perdre sa vie à la gagner [The risks of work. So that you do not waste your life earning it ]. La Découverte.
Torres, I. (2006). Mudanças organizacionais, saúde e bem-estar na banca portuguesa. Idade e sentidos do trabalho numa nova relação salarial (resumo) [Organizational changes, health and well-being in Portuguese banking. Age and meanings of work in a new wage relationship (summary)]. Laboreal, 2(2), 62-65. http://laboreal.up.pt/revista/artigo.php?id=48u56oTV658223389652425952.
Truxillo, D. M., McCune, E. A. & Bertolino, M. (2012). Perceptions of older versus younger workers in terms of big five facets, proactive persona-lity, cognitive ability and job performance. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 42(11), 2607-2639. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2012.00954.x.
Van den Bogaard, L., Henkens, K., & Kalmijn, M. (2014). So now what? Effects of retirement on civic engagement. Ageing & Society, 34(7), 1170-1192. http://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X13000019.
Van der Noordt, M. (2021). Trends in working life expectancy, working conditions and health in an ageing population. Network for Studies on Pen-sions, Aging and Retirement (Netspar). ISBN: 978-94-6419-153-0.
Wang, X. (2016). Subjective well-being associated with size of social network and social support of elderly. Journal of Health Psychology, 21(6), 1037-1042. http://doi.org/10.1177/1359105314544136.
WHOQOL Group (1994). Development of the WHOQOL: Rationale and current status. International Journal of Mental Health, 23(3), 24-56. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207411.1994.11449286.
WHOQOL Group (1998). The World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment (WHO-QOL): development and general psychometric properties. Social Science and Medicine, 46, 1569-85.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2002). Active ageing. A policy framework. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/67215.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2015). World report on ageing and health. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/186463.
Zaninotto, P., Falaschetti, E., & Sacker, A. (2009). Age trajectories of quality of life among older adults: Results from the English longitudinal study of ageing. Quality Of Life Research: An International Journal Of Quality Of Life Aspects Of Treatment, Care & Rehabilitation, 18(10), 1301–1309.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Journal of HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0