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Work and active aging: is there a relationship between health and meaning in life?

Isabel Torres (Institute of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Lusíada University of Porto, Porto, Portugal) (CLISSIS - Lusíada Research Center on Social Work and Social Intervention, Lisboa, Portugal) (COMEGI - Center for Research in Organizations, Markets and Industrial Management, Lisboa, Portugal) (CIPD - Psychology for Positive Development Research Center, Porto, Portugal)
Tânia Gaspar (Institute of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Universidade Lusíada de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal) (CLISSIS - Lusíada Research Center on Social Work and Social Intervention, Lisboa, Portugal) (CIPD - Psychology for Positive Development Research Center, Porto, Portugal)
Paula Rodrigues (Faculty of Economic Science and Business, Universidade Lusíada Norte, Porto, Portugal) (COMEGI - Center for Research in Organizations, Markets and Industrial Management, Lisboa, Portugal)

International Journal of Workplace Health Management

ISSN: 1753-8351

Article publication date: 8 March 2022

Issue publication date: 29 March 2022

292

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explain the health impact of work demands and organization, job content, leadership and values in the workplace. It also explores the extent to which health conditions influence the meaning in life in late career.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consisted of 1,330 Portuguese-based individuals aged 55–75 years. The structural equation modeling (SEM) was used for the data analysis and to test the research questions.

Findings

The results showed that stress and burnout are influenced by work demands and organization, job content, leadership and values in the workplace. Employment status had no influence. Health status affects the meaning in life.

Research limitations/implications

Although participants were asked to answer the questionnaire bearing in mind their last work experience, retirees could have had difficulty reporting on their last work; therefore, in future research, the use of a qualitative methodology could also be equated as to complement richer information regarding past experiences in the work context.

Practical implications

Considering the main goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, this study contributes, namely, to the third one – Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. In fact, directing a look at the condition in which older people work and at their health contributes not only to more productive organizations, to less spending of public money on health, but also to a more inclusive society. Bearing in mind workers are progressively retiring later and that the exposure to certain work conditions during the late career is problematic for organizations and for society in general, this study has practical and social implication.

Originality/value

Considering demographic changes and the aging of the active population in Portugal and the scarce studies carried out in the country concerning this relevant theme, the authors believe that the conclusions may constitute an important input for workplace policies regarding older workers. In addition, little research has focused on the effect of health in meaning in life.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work is financed from national funds by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), under Project UIDB/04624/2020.

Conflict of interest. The authors of this article declare no conflict of interest.

Citation

Torres, I., Gaspar, T. and Rodrigues, P. (2022), "Work and active aging: is there a relationship between health and meaning in life?", International Journal of Workplace Health Management, Vol. 15 No. 2, pp. 235-253. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-12-2020-0208

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

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