How Do Existing and Newly Diagnosed Chronic Health Conditions Affect Older Workers’ Vitality and Worries about Functional Ability?

Anushiya Vanajan , Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI) and University Medical Center Groningen
Ute Bültmann, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Health Sciences, Community & Occupational Medicine
Kène Henkens , Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI)

Objective. With increasing pension ages, older workers are working longer while experiencing chronic health conditions (CHCs). Our knowledge on how CHCs influence older workers’ vitality and worries is limited. We examine how four existing and newly diagnosed CHCs influence older workers’ vitality and worries about physical and mental functional ability. Methods. We used data from a Dutch pension panel survey. A sample of 1,894 older workers (60-62 years at baseline) was analyzed using conditional change OLS regression models. Results. Having CHCs decreased vitality and increased worries. This effect was worser for older workers newly diagnosed with CHCs. Being newly diagnosed with physically disabling conditions increased worries about physical functioning, while being newly diagnosed with mentally disabling conditions increased worries about mental functioning. Implications. These findings aid the identification of vulnerable groups of older workers, thereby informing interventions that could improve their quality of life, while promoting healthy ageing at work.

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 Presented in Session P1. Postercafe