Work Ability and Its Correlates With Workers Aging Among Blue-Collar Workers in a Manufacturing Company

Based on the results, it can be concluded that work-life conflict and life-work conflict are risk factors for impaired work ability. Conversely, skill discretion is a protective factor and can help to maintain and promote workers' ability to work. Monitoring these factors can therefore prevent premature deterioration of work ability. ObjectiveThis article assesses work ability in a sample of blue-collar workers who often perform physically demanding tasks.MethodThe data collected resulted in 354 validly completed questionnaires from 426 participants (response rate: approximately 90%).ResultsIn this sample, the average score on WAI of workers is 37.42 (SD = 6.62), indicating good work ability. Regression analyses revealed that work ability was significantly associated skill discretion (beta = 0.365, P = 0.001), home-work conflict (beta = -0.199, P = 0.001), and work-home conflict (beta = -0.320, P = 0.001).ConclusionsOf the psychosocial factors examined in this study, skill discretion was the most important factor associated with work ability. Therefore, it is necessary to develop measures that support this component.