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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Occupational Gerontology: Work-Related Determinants of Old Age Health and Functioning

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description

Work is one of the essential functions during the human life span. We spend almost half of our lives occupationally active. Therefore, several different work-related determinants are affecting our lives. In recent years, there has been an increasing knowledge about work-related factors and their effect on health and functioning. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have provided strong evidence that both positive and negative exposures in work influence our well-being. This chapter gives an overview of recent literature about the associations between work, working conditions, and health. Within this chapter, we summarize the current knowledge on the association between work-related determinants, both positive and negative, in relation to health and functioning. A special attention is paid to recent findings from the Finnish Longitudinal Study on Municipal Employees (FLAME), which has provided new knowledge about the long-term consequences of work extending even to old age. The association between midlife work and old age functional capacity will be discussed along with the potential factors on the pathway. Finally, interventions aiming to promote healthy and active aging by creating healthy working conditions are discussed.