Table 2

Distribution and Poisson univariate associations between work ability and demographic variables, physical and mental health, and work environment characteristics among female employees in Norway (N= 597)

Work Ability (WA)

Not reduced
WA
n = 222
 Moderately reduced
WA
n = 301
 Severely reduced
WA
N = 51
Moderately reduced WA
 Severely reduced WA

%
 %
 %
 N
 RR
 CI 95%
 RR
 95% CI
Demographic variables


585



Age (years) (p < 0.001)







18 ≤ 29
 51.0
 43.6
 5.4
1 (ref.)
1 (ref.)
30–39
 37.1
 54.6
 8.3
1.3
 0.9 – 1.7
 1.9
 0.9 – 4.0
40–49
 24.6
 59.1
 16.4
1.5
 1.1 – 2.1
 4.2
 1.9 – 8.9
50–67
 19.4
 71.0
 9.7
1.7
 1.1 – 2.7
 3.5
 0.9 – 12.5
Missing
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -











Ethnicity (p > 0.05)


585



Norwegian
 39.0
 52.4
 8.6
1 (ref.)
1 (ref.)
Not ethnic Norwegian
 33.3
 52.8
 13.9
1.1
 0.7 – 1.7
 1.6
 0.7 – 4.1
Missing
 -
 -
 -













Marital status (p > 0.05)


564



Married/cohabiting
 40.3
 52.0
 7.6
1 (ref.)
1 (ref.)
Not married/not cohabiting
 35.2
 53.8
 11.0
1.1
 0.8 – 1.4
 1.5
 0.8 – 2.7
Missing
 20.0
 50.0
 30.0













Residence (p > 0.05)


585



Oslo (urban)
 38.9
 52.7
 7.8
1 (ref.)
1 (ref.)
Lofoten (rural)
 37.9
 53.1
 9.0
0.9
 0.7 – 1.4
 1.5
 0.7 – 3.3
Other
 38.4
 49.3
 12.3
1.0
 0.8 – 1.3
 1.2
 0.6 – 2.1
Missing
 -
 -
 -













Occupation (p > 0.05)


571



Skilled
 41.2
 52.4
 6.5
1 (ref.)
1 (ref.)
Not skilled
 35.2
 52.6
 12.7
1.1
 0.8 – 1.3
 1.9
 1.1 – 3.3
Missing
 25.0
 50.0
 25.0













Working time (p > 0.05)


569



Part time
 34.8
 56.5
 8.7
1 (ref.)
1 (ref.)
Full time
 40.4
 51.3
 8.3
0.9
 0.7 – 1.2
 0.9
 0.4 – 1.6
Missing
 26.7
 46.7
 26.7













Physical and mental health







How satisfied are you with your physical health and well-being? (p < 0.001)


581



Satisfied
 47.4
 49.3
 3.3
1 (ref.)
1 (ref.)
Partially satisfied
 15.3
 72.5
 12.2
1.6
 1.2 – 2.1
 6.9
 3.2 – 14.7
Dissatisfied
 4.8
 38.1
 57.1
1.7
 1.0 – 2.9
 14.4
 7.4 – 27.8
Missing
 25.0
 50.0
 25.0













Obesity (p < 0.001)


552



BMI < 30
 40.0
 52.6
 7.4
1 (ref.)
1 (ref.)
BMI ≥ 30
 28.0
 58.0
 14.0
1.2
 0.8 – 1.7
 2.1
 0.9 – 4.8
Missing
 31.8
 36.4
 31.8













Mental health (p < 0.001)


585



No mental distress
 46.2
 47.5
 6.3
1 (ref.)
1 (ref.)
Light mental distress
 24.1
 64.8
 11.1
1.4
 1.0 – 2.1
 2.7
 1.1 – 6.4
Severe mental distress
 2.8
 73.6
 23.6
1.9
 1.4 – 2.6
 7.5
 4.1 – 13.7
Missing
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -











Work environment







Physically strenuous work (p < 0.05)


562



Never
 44.6
 47.9
 7.5
1 (ref.)
1 (ref.)
Sometimes/All the time
 33.9
 56.6
 9.5
1.2
 0.9 – 1.5
 1.5
 0.9 – 2.7
Missing
 25.0
 50.0
 25.0













Mentally strenuous work (p < 0.05)


562



Never
 50.6
 41.8
 7.9
1 (ref.)
1 (ref.)
Sometimes/All the time
 36.8
 55.6
 8.7
1.3
 0.9 – 1.8
 1.4
 0.6 – 3.2
Missing
 25.0
 50.0
 25.0













Workplace stress (p > 0.05)


562



Never
 32.8
 56.9
 10.3
1 (ref.)
1 (ref.)
Sometimes/All the time
 39.7
 52.0
 8.3
0.9
 0.6 – 1.3
 0.7
 0.3 – 1.7
Missing
 25.0
 50.0
 25.0













Do you feel that you utilize your abilities at work? (p < 0.05)


558



Yes
 44.2
 49.8
 6.0
1 (ref.)
1 (ref.)
Partially/No
 33.2
 55.2
 11.6
1.2
 0.9 – 1.4
 2.2
 1.2 – 3.9
Missing
 25.0
 56.3
 18.8













To what extent do you personally make decisions about your work? (p > 0.05)


562



I decide myself
 40.9
 53.8
 5.3
1 (ref.)
1 (ref.)
I partly decide/Immediate supervisor decides what and how
 38.4
 52.1
 9.5
1.0
 0.8 – 1.3
 1.7
 0.8 – 3.9
Missing
 25.0
 50.0
 25.0













Are you satisfied with your work? (p < 0.000)


582



Satisfied
 43.3
 50.5
 6.2
1 (ref.)
1 (ref.)
Partly satisfied/Not satisfied
 12.6
 63.2
 24.1
1.5
 1.2 – 2.1
 5.3
 3.0 – 9.2
Missing
 50.0
 50.0
 -













Is there any risk that you might lose your job? (p > 0.05)


562



No
 38.9
 52.4
 8.7
1 (ref.)
1 (ref.)
Yes
 39.5
 53.1
 7.4
0.9
 0.7 – 1.4
 0.8
 0.4 – 2.0
Missing
 25.0
 50.0
 25.0













Work environment (total) (p < 0.01)


556



Good
 52.2
 43.4
 4.4
1 (ref.)
1 (ref.)
Average
 35.5
 55.6
 8.9
1.3
 1.0 – 1.8
 2.6
 1.2 – 5.7
Bad
 22.2
 60.5
 17.3
1.6
 1.1 – 2.3
 5.6
 2.4 – 13.4
Missing
 27.8
 55.6
 16.7




Note: Data on Work Ability (WA) were missing for 12 cases (2,01%)

Gamperiene et al. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology 2008 3:8   doi:10.1186/1745-6673-3-8