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. 2023 May 18:14:1152310.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1152310. eCollection 2023.

Aging engineers' occupational self-efficacy-a mixed methods study

Stina Wallin  1 , Anncristine Fjellman-Wiklund  2 , Lisbeth Fagerström  1   3
Affiliations

Aging engineers' occupational self-efficacy-a mixed methods study

Stina Wallin et al. Front Psychol. .

Abstract

Introduction: Engineers' work has become more complex with increased demands in today's changing working life. Self-efficacy is essential to successfully adapt to work-related changes and to cope with adverse job demands. However, less is known about aging engineers' occupational self-efficacy. Therefore, this study explores facilitators and barriers to aging engineers' occupational self-efficacy beliefs to continue working until expected retirement age. An additional purpose is to explore if any of the aspects described by the engineers are more prominent.

Methods: The study design was exploratory, using mixed methods with a qualitative to quantitative approach. A total of 125 engineers, aged between 45 and 65 years, answered two open-ended survey questions about what positively and negatively affect their occupational self-efficacy beliefs to continue working. First, data was analyzed using an inductive manifest qualitative content analysis. Next, descriptive statistics were performed based on the results of the qualitative study.

Results: The analyses revealed that health and working conditions that affect health were crucial facilitators and barriers for the aging engineers' occupational self-efficacy to continue working until expected retirement age. Furthermore, the engineers emphasized competence, motivation from meaningful tasks, family and leisure, and private economy.

Discussion: The aging engineers' own health seems to be prominent in their self-efficacy regarding a full working life; consequently, support still needs to address issues affecting health.

Keywords: aging workers; engineers; full working life; mixed methods; occupational self-efficacy; personal resources.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of sample selection and the study population.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Flowchart of the data analysis and integration procedure.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Categories positively and negatively affecting aging engineers’ occupational self-efficacy to continue working until expected retirement age.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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