What are the sociodemographic and health determinants for older adults continue to participate in work?

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the sociodemographic and health factors that influence older adults who continue to participate in the workforce.

Methods: Data were collected and evaluated for 1762 older adults aged 65 years and older who were living in the community and were enrolled in a population-based study (FIBRA Network Study). Older adults who participated in the workforce were compared with those who did not in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, physical and mental health, and physical functioning and performance in advanced and instrumental activities characteristic of daily living. A multivariate hierarchical logistic regression analysis was performed.

Results: Factors associated with not participating in the workforce were aged (OR: 1.71, [95% CI: 1.26-2.30], p<0.001), female gender (OR: 1.70, [95% CI: 1.22-2.37], p=0.002), poor visual perception (OR: 1.31, [95% CI: 1.00-1.72], p=0.046), using 4 or more medications regularly (OR: 1.41, [95% CI: 1.489-2.247], p=0.034), having 3 or more comorbidities (OR: 1.44, [95% CI: 1.01-2.04], p=0.040), and a handgrip strength below 24.6kg/f (18.1-24.6kg/f (2nd tertile): OR: 1.52, [95% CI: 1.06-2.18], p=0.022; 0-18kg/f (1st tertile): OR: 1.60, [95% CI: 1.08-2.38], p=0.019). The probability estimates of the final model explained 67.9% of the events related to not participating in the workforce, as observed by the area under the ROC curve.

Conclusion: Our results highlight that work in later life is influenced by sociodemographic characteristics, intrinsic capacity, and multimorbidity. We suggest that strategies for optimizing healthy and active aging may help older people to continue participating in the workforce and contributing toward their communities.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Functional performance; Longevity; Public health; Socio-economic issues; Successful aging.