Do Sleep Problems Explain the Association Between Work Stress and the Trajectories of Work Ability From Midlife to Pensionable Age?

Objective: This study examined whether mid-life work stress, defined as job strain and effort-reward imbalance (ERI), predicts work ability trajectories observed 12 years preceding the individual pensionable age. In addition, the role of sleep problems as a mediator in these associations was examined.

Methods: Survey data were collected from 2707 Finnish municipal employees.

Results: Identified work ability trajectories were "stable excellent," "stable good," "moderate," and "low decreasing." Baseline job strain and ERI were associated with a greater likelihood of belonging to impaired work ability trajectories when compared with "stable good" trajectory. Baseline sleep problems explained the association of job strain by 38% and of ERI by 54%.

Conclusions: Mid-life work stress is associated with work ability in the last years preceding pensionable age. Sleep problems might be a potential mediator in these associations.