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Older workers generally report low levels of work-related stress, according to a University of Michigan study of a nationally representative sample of older workers.

The study, presented in San Francisco at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, is based on 2006 data from 1,544 participants within the U-M Well being and Retirement Study, conducted by the U-M Institute for Social Research (ISR) and funded by the National Institute on Aging.

By the year 2010, middle-aged and older workers are expected to outnumber their younger colleagues, making the physical and emotional well-being of older workers a growing concern for U.S. employers.

For the analysis, ISR researcher Gwenith Fisher, Quinnipiac University researcher Carrie Bulger and colleagues examined the prevalence of different kinds of job stressors reported by participants between the ages of 53 and 85. They also examined how those stressors relate to workers’ life satisfaction and physical health. All participants worked at least 20 hours per week.

Slightly more than half of the participants were male, 87 percent had been Caucasian, about eight percent were African American and seven percent had been Hispanic. On average, they had about 14 years of education.

“In general, older workers did not report high levels of work-related stressors,” stated Fisher, an organizational psychologist who is particularly interested in issues of work-life balance.

Just over half agreed or strongly agreed that they have competing demands becoming made on them at work, and 47 percent agreed that time pressures are a source of job stress.

Only 19 percent of older workers indicated that they have poor job security, nevertheless. “Given what we know about the extent of age discrimination at work and the current economic climate regarding unemployment, this is a surprisingly low number,” stated Fisher.

Just 15 percent reported that their work often or nearly all the time interfered with their personal lives and a scant 2 percent stated their personal lives interfered with their work.

“Many older workers are empty-nesters,” Fisher stated. “They don’t have the same work-personal conflicts that younger and middle-aged workers deal with, juggling responsibilities to children along with their jobs and their personal needs.”

Results from the study also indicated that workers who expertise less job stress are more satisfied with their life and are overall in better physical well being compared with those who report higher levels of job stressors.

For both younger and older workers alike, time pressure has been increasing over the last two decades, many studies have shown. “Technological advances like Blackberries, along with out-sourcing and down-sizing, have all increased the amount of work and pace at work,” Fisher stated. “But it’s particularly important to look at the effects this pressure may have on older workers, whose well being may be more vulnerable than that of younger workers.”

At this time of year, time pressure may be even greater because work loads may increase, Fisher said. “Year-end goals need to be met at the same time as the holidays mean less time at work and more personal errands and activities,” she said.

For older and younger workers facing work-related stress, Fisher recommended a few basic guidelines.

First, she advised, take good care of yourself. “Get enough sleep,” she stated. “In the short-term, you may be able to cut corners but within the long-term, cutting back on sleep may compromise your immune system and you’ll be more likely to get sick.” Also, be sure to get regular physical exercise. This can go a long way toward helping your body handle stressors, and reduce strains like anxiety and increase your energy level on the job.

Secondly, engage in active time management, Fisher advised. Use strategies that work for you, like creating a to-do list so you can keep track of tasks and set priorities. Establish clear boundaries. “With all the technologies that blur the boundaries between work and personal life, it’s important to set aside some time that isn’t available for any work,” she stated.

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Established in 1948, the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research (ISR) is among the world’s oldest academic survey research organizations, and a world leader inside the development and application of social science methodology. ISR conducts some of the most widely-cited studies inside the nation, including the Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers, the American National Election Studies, the Monitoring the Future Study, the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, the Well being and Retirement Study, and the National Survey of Black Americans. ISR researchers also collaborate with social scientists in more than 60 nations on the World Values Surveys and other projects, and the Institute has established formal ties with universities in Poland, China and South Africa. ISR is also home to the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), the world’s largest computerized social science data archive. Visit the ISR web site at http://www.isr.umich.edu/ for more information.

Source: Diane Swanbrow
University of Michigan

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