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Joly-Burra E, Van der Linden M, Ghisletta P. A Mixed-Method Study on Strategies in Everyday Personal Goals among Community-Dwelling Older Adults. Gerontology 2020; 66:484-493. [PMID: 32659778 DOI: 10.1159/000508824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although it is well known that preference for selection, optimization, and compensation (SOC) strategies is associated with indicators of successful aging and well-being, very little is known about what predicts the use of SOC as goal management strategies in the daily lives of older adults. The present study investigates predictors of self-reported use of SOC strategies in community-dwelling adults. We expected selection and especially compensation to be higher in individuals with worse subjective health and cognitive performance. On the contrary, given that optimization is an anticipatory strategy to increase goal-relevant means in the absence of resource losses, we did not expect optimization to be related to either health or cognition. METHODS We performed hierarchical regression to predict use of SOC strategies to achieve everyday personal goals (assessed qualitatively via semi-structured interviews exploring participants' personal goals) from subjective health and objective cognitive performance, controlling for age, apathy, and depression. RESULTS Poorer self-rated health and worse cognitive performance positively predicted compensation as a goal management strategy (R2 = 20%), whereas self-rated health just failed to significantly predict selection rates. None of the variables of interest predicted optimization. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION Whereas previous research suggests associations between reduced resources and decreased absolute frequency of compensation use, the present study found that poorer cognitive status and perceived health are both linked to increased reliance on compensation in order to preserve well-being. In line with their anticipatory nature, the use of optimization strategies was independent from health and cognitive resources in our sample. We discuss the absence of conclusive effects regarding selection in this study in light of the distinction between elective and loss-based selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Joly-Burra
- Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, .,Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, .,Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland,
| | - Martial Van der Linden
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Cognitive Psychopathology Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Paolo Ghisletta
- Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Swiss Distance University Institute, Brig, Switzerland
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Weber J, Jörres R, Kronseder A, Müller A, Weigl M, Chmelar C. Learning on the job, the use of selection, optimization, and compensation strategies, and their association with telomere length as an indicator of biological aging. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2019; 92:361-370. [PMID: 30671630 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-019-01408-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Due to the increased need for retention of older workforce caused by demographic changes in industrialized countries, support of healthy aging in occupational settings is of increasing relevance. This study examines the relationship between leucocyte telomere length (LTL), a potential biomarker for biological aging, and selection, optimization, and compensation (SOC) and learning opportunities as strategies involving efficient management and gain of resources at work. METHODS Within a cross-sectional study, blood samples were drawn from 141 geriatric care professionals to measure LTL by quantitative real-time polymerase-chain reaction. Furthermore, all participants were asked with standardized questionnaires to rate their learning opportunities at work and use of SOC strategies. Analyses were performed by multiple linear regressions. RESULTS SOC use, especially compensation, tended to be negatively, and learning opportunities tended to be positively associated with LTL. Furthermore, a significant interaction was found between optimization and learning opportunities, such that LTL and learning opportunities were only positively associated when optimization was high. CONCLUSIONS Resources at work were weakly associated with telomere length, which is not unexpected in view of the multiplicity of factors affecting LTL. The results further suggest that a mismatch between SOC and learning opportunities may negatively affect successful aging. They also suggest that more detailed research on biological aging and its relation to resources at work is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeannette Weber
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Rudolf Jörres
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Ziemssenstr.1, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Angelika Kronseder
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Ziemssenstr.1, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Müller
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Work and Organizational Psychology, Faculty of Education, University Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 2, 45141, Essen, Germany
| | - Matthias Weigl
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Ziemssenstr.1, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Caroline Chmelar
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Ziemssenstr.1, 80336, Munich, Germany
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Weber J, Müller A, Stiller M, Borchart D. Prognostic effects of selection, optimization and compensation strategies on work ability: results from the representative lidA cohort study on work, age, and health in Germany. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2018; 91:1061-1071. [PMID: 30132132 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-018-1348-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Regarding the increased need for the retention of older employees in the workforce, this study investigates whether there are main and interactive longitudinal effects of selection, optimization, compensation and working conditions according to the job demand-control model on work ability in older employees. METHODS Longitudinal data of computer-assisted personal interviews with one follow-up after 3 years of 3961 participants (born in 1959 and 1965) of the representative German lidA cohort study was used. Multiple linear regressions were performed, analyzing prospective main and interactive effects of selection, optimization, compensation and working conditions during baseline on perceived work ability at follow-up. RESULTS Regarding selection, optimization and compensation, only compensation had a positive, but weak effect on work ability. Working conditions were more strongly related to work ability: decision authority and skill discretion had independent positive and job demands had independent negative effects on work ability. One interaction effect was observed between loss-based selection and decision authority, such that they mutually enhanced their positive effects on work ability. Only few and weak interactions among the sub-strategies, selection, optimization and compensation, were observed. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that especially favorable working conditions in terms of high job control and low job demands, but also compensation might help older employees to maintain work ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeannette Weber
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Andreas Müller
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Psychology, Work- and Organizational Psychology, University Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 2, 45141, Essen, Germany
| | - Michael Stiller
- Department of Occupational Health Science, School of Mechanical Engineering and Safety Engineering, University of Wuppertal, Gaußstr. 20, 42119, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Daniela Borchart
- Department of Occupational Health Science, School of Mechanical Engineering and Safety Engineering, University of Wuppertal, Gaußstr. 20, 42119, Wuppertal, Germany
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