Gender Differences in Associations between Biomechanical and Psychosocial Work Exposures and Age of Withdrawal from Paid Employment among Older Workers

Abstract

Background: Work exposures are known predictors of withdrawal from employment, but the associations between work exposures and withdrawal may vary with gender. This study evaluated gender differences in associations between biomechanical and psychosocial work exposures and age of withdrawal from paid employment among older workers in Norway. Methods: 77,558 men and 67,773 women (born 1949–1953) were followed from age 62 until withdrawal from paid employment or end of follow-up in 2016 (up to five years follow-up). Information about eight biomechanical and seven psychosocial exposures was obtained from a gender-specific job exposure matrix. Using Cox regression, the difference in mean estimated time until withdrawal between non-exposed and exposed was calculated for each gender and work exposure separately. Results: The largest gender difference was found for high psychological demands. Among men, the non-exposed withdrew earlier than the exposed (−3.66 months (95% CI: −4.04–−3.25 months)), and contrary among women (0.71 (0.28–1.10)), resulting in a gender difference of 4.37 (3.81–4.97) months. Gender differences were also found for monotonous work (4.12 (3.51–4.69) months), hands above shoulder height (2.41 (1.76–3.10) months), and high iso-strain (2.14 (1.38–2.95) months). Conclusions: There were observed gender differences in the associations between some biomechanical and psychosocial work exposures and mean age of withdrawal from paid employment among older workers. However, the results are likely affected by the selection of who remains in the workforce at age 62 and should be interpreted accordingly.