Ross Andel1, Frank J Infurna2, Elizabeth A Hahn Rickenbach3, Michael Crowe4, Lisa Marchiondo5, Gwenith G Fisher6. 1. University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic. 2. Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA. 3. Department of Psychology, Saint Anselm College, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA. 4. Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. 5. Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. 6. Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We examined indicators of job strain in relation to level and change in episodic memory in the years leading up to as well as following retirement. METHODS: Our analyses centre on 3779 individuals from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (baseline age 57.3 years) who reported gainful employment in an occupation for 10+ years prior to retirement, and who were assessed for episodic memory performance over up to 20 years (median 8 waves over 16 years). We used ratings from the Occupational Information Network (O*Net) to score occupations for job control and job demands, and to measure job strain (job demands/job control). RESULTS: Controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, and cardiovascular disease, less job control and greater job strain were not significantly associated with change in episodic memory in the period leading up to retirement, but were associated with significantly poorer episodic memory at retirement and an accelerated rate of decline in episodic memory following retirement. The results did not vary for men and women or by self-employment status. CONCLUSIONS: Job strain expressed mainly as low job control is linked to poorer episodic memory at retirement and more decline after retirement. Job characteristics appear to have implications for cognitive ageing independent of relevant confounds. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.
BACKGROUND: We examined indicators of job strain in relation to level and change in episodic memory in the years leading up to as well as following retirement. METHODS: Our analyses centre on 3779 individuals from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (baseline age 57.3 years) who reported gainful employment in an occupation for 10+ years prior to retirement, and who were assessed for episodic memory performance over up to 20 years (median 8 waves over 16 years). We used ratings from the Occupational Information Network (O*Net) to score occupations for job control and job demands, and to measure job strain (job demands/job control). RESULTS: Controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, and cardiovascular disease, less job control and greater job strain were not significantly associated with change in episodic memory in the period leading up to retirement, but were associated with significantly poorer episodic memory at retirement and an accelerated rate of decline in episodic memory following retirement. The results did not vary for men and women or by self-employment status. CONCLUSIONS: Job strain expressed mainly as low job control is linked to poorer episodic memory at retirement and more decline after retirement. Job characteristics appear to have implications for cognitive ageing independent of relevant confounds. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.
Entities:
Keywords:
COGNITION; GERONTOLOGY; OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH; Work stress
Authors: Alexandra D Crosswell; Madhuvanthi Suresh; Eli Puterman; Tara L Gruenewald; Jinkook Lee; Elissa S Epel Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2020-04-16 Impact factor: 4.077
Authors: Liming Dong; William W Eaton; Adam P Spira; Jacqueline Agnew; Pamela J Surkan; Ramin Mojtabai Journal: Occup Environ Med Date: 2018-10-15 Impact factor: 4.402
Authors: Laura A Fraade-Blanar; Jeanne M Sears; Kwun Chuen G Chan; Hilaire J Thompson; Paul K Crane; Beth E Ebel Journal: J Occup Environ Med Date: 2017-02 Impact factor: 2.162