![[ Visit Client Website ]](images/banner.png)
Methods Quantitative data of 78.986 employees that participated in the Netherlands Working Conditions Survey (NWCS) 2007-2010 were studied. The NWCS includes a national representative sample of employees aged 15-64 years. Demographics, work characteristics, and emotional exhaustion were assessed with a questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was applied to study the association between work-related factors and emotional exhaustion, and to investigate differences between employees aged 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, and 55-64 years. Qualitative data were collected by means of four focus groups in employees aged 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, and 55-64 years. Employees described the factors that make their job mentally demanding now, and when they will be older. Differences between older and younger workers were identified.
Results Preliminary results from the quantitative analyses showed that enterprise restructuring, high job demands, low job autonomy, high cognitive demands, high emotional demands, low social support, and inappropriate behavior by colleagues/supervisor were related with a higher likelihood of emotional exhaustion. For most factors, including enterprise restructuring, no differences between older and younger workers were found. However, a trend was found that the association between high job demands and emotional exhaustion was stronger in older employees than in younger employees. In contrast, the associations between low social support from colleagues and the supervisor and emotional exhaustion were stronger in younger employees than in older employees. Preliminary results from the focus groups showed that, among others, enterprise restructuring, the economic crises, and fast developments are factors that contribute to high mental demands at work. Differences between older and younger workers will be studied further.
Conclusions In the coming months, analyses will be finalized and conclusions will be drawn.