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. 2020 Apr 7;17(7):2530.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17072530.

Mediating Factors for the Relationship between Stress and Work Ability over Time in Young Adults

Art van Schaaijk  1 , Adnan Noor Baloch  2 , Sara Thomée  3 , Monique Frings-Dresen  1 , Mats Hagberg  4 , Karen Nieuwenhuijsen  1
Affiliations

Mediating Factors for the Relationship between Stress and Work Ability over Time in Young Adults

Art van Schaaijk et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Stress can affect work ability. The aim of this study was to identify how this pathway is mediated over time in young adults. Participants of the Work Ability in Young Adults cohort were selected. A theoretical framework was built, which lead to a statistical model. Selected dimensions of mediators were recovery, work demands affecting private life, feelings of control over private life, and physical activity in leisure time. A quadruple serial mediation model was built with four mediators. The total effect of stress on work ability was -0.3955, 95% CI [-0.4764, -0.3146]. The total indirect effect amounted to 81% with an effect of -0.3182, 95% CI [-0.3750, -0.2642]. The relationship between stress and Work Ability Score five years later in young adults was mediated by stress five years later, work demands affecting private life, feelings of control over private life and feeling well-rested upon waking. These results indicate that work demands affecting private life and feelings of control over private life are important mediators of the relationship between stress and work ability in young adults. A well-balanced relationship between work and private life can counteract the influence of stress on work ability in this age group.

Keywords: Mediation; sustainable employability; work ability score; work-private life balance.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare having no conflict of interest. Financial support was provided by AFA insurance. Data availability: Data cannot be shared publicly as information about health and personal factors are regarded as sensitive information, and when sharing such data there has to be an approval from a Swedish Ethical committee (according to Swedish law) even if data is anonymized. Data is available with an approval from an ethical review board. For data requests, contact: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Gothenburg University, Box 414, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden. The name of the data set is “WAYA” (Work Ability Young Adults).

Figures

Figure A1
Figure A1
Primary theoretical framework consisting of four dimensions of possible mediating factors of the relationship between stress and work ability.
Figure A2
Figure A2
Different mediation steps testing the relationships of the variables.
Figure A2
Figure A2
Different mediation steps testing the relationships of the variables.
Figure A2
Figure A2
Different mediation steps testing the relationships of the variables.
Figure A2
Figure A2
Different mediation steps testing the relationships of the variables.
Figure A3
Figure A3
Quadruple mediation with individual effect per path. All paths are significant p < 0.05, except c′.
Figure A4
Figure A4
Flowchart of inclusion of the Work Ability in Young Adults (WAYA) cohort.
Figure A5
Figure A5
Quadruple mediation with individual effect per path for males. (All paths are significant p < 0.05, except a4, b4, d6, and c′).
Figure A6
Figure A6
Quadruple mediation with individual effect per path for females. All paths are significant p < 0.05, except a2, a4, d3, and c′.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Quadruple mediation with individual effect per path. All paths are significant p < 0.05, except c′.
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