Work Ability Before and After COVID-19
Author Information
Author(s): Kausto Johanna, Airaksinen Jaakko, Oksanen Tuula, Vahtera Jussi, Kivimaki Mika, Ervasti Jenni M
Primary Institution: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
Hypothesis
What are the trajectories of work ability from pre-COVID to post-COVID pandemic period and what work unit characteristics are associated with these trajectories?
Conclusion
Prepandemic psychosocial risk factors and pandemic-induced changes at work were associated with poor and declining work ability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supporting Evidence
- Most employees maintained optimal work ability during the pandemic.
- A smaller group with suboptimal work ability experienced further decline.
- High job strain and poor team climate were linked to declining work ability.
Takeaway
This study looked at how people's ability to work changed before and after COVID-19, finding that most people did well, but some struggled more due to changes at work.
Methodology
The study used trajectory analysis to identify work ability trajectories and multinomial regression to examine associations with work unit characteristics.
Potential Biases
Selection bias due to non-response and missing values is possible, although response rates were relatively high.
Limitations
The study's results may not be generalizable to other sectors outside the public sector.
Participant Demographics
The study included Finnish public sector employees, with a mean age of 44.6 years and a mix of genders.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.82 to 2.88
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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