The overall aim of the thesis was to examine factors associated with (Study 1), predictors (Study II), and experiences (Study III) involved with being active in working life after the expected retirement age and the experiences of exiting working life before the expected retirement age (Study IV). In Studies I and II, a quantitative approach was used, with data derived from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care (SNAC). In Studies III and IV, a qualitative approach was used, with data collected through semi-structured interviews. The results from Studies I and II revealed that being active in working life at age 66 was associated with being male, having a university education, working in a highly skilled occupation, having light physical activity at work, or having no more than one diagnosed disease. Being male (Studies I and II), having a university education (only in Study I) or working in a highly skilled occupation (only in Study II) were associated with being active in working life at age 72. The results from Studies III and IV revealed that from an individual perspective, health was a prominent aspect in either remaining in or exiting from working life. Staying active in working life increased feelings of vitality; the innermost dimension of health. Favorable working conditions could be beneficial to cognitive and physical health as well as to social well-being and a sense of meaningfulness. In contrast, strenuous working conditions contributed to the deterioration of health and pushed people at older ages toward an early exit from working life. The present results confirm the complexity regarding the predictors for being active in working life at older ages. The results add knowledge regarding how health in overall life and staying active in or exiting from working life at older ages can be experienced from a subjective perspective. With a successive increase in statutory retirement ages, the focus on the possibilities for healthy aging through being active in working life at older ages needs to be increased.

This study examines associations between participation in working life and sociodemographic, health, and work environment factors among people aged 60, 66, and 72 years. The agestratified logistic regression analysis used data from 2001–2003 (T1) and 2013–2015 (T2) derived from The Swedish National Study on Ageing and Care. Further, interaction variables with time*independent variables explored differences in those associations over time. We found positive associations between being active in working life and male gender (age 66 and 72), higher education (all age groups), higher professional level (age 60 and 66), better health (age 60 and 66), less negative work experiences (mainly age 60), light level of physical activity at work (age 60 and 66), higher work satisfaction (age 60 and 66), and time: that is,T2 vs.T1 (all age groups). Not only health status but also work environment factors were shown to play a significant role in being active in working life at older ages. Our findings verify that authorities need to develop reforms aiming at keeping older people active in working life from a heterogeneous perspective.

BACKGROUND: Health and work environment are known factors in being active in working life beyond legal retirement.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate sociodemographic, health and work environment factors as possible predictors of being active in working life at ages 66 and 72. Secondly, investigate eventual changes over time, shortly after a major reform in the Swedish pension system, and predictors of still being active in working life at age 66.

METHODS: We used a longitudinal design with two separate cohorts of people at age 60. One baseline assessment was made in 2001–2003 with two 6 years follow-ups, and one in 200–2009 with one 6 years follow-up. Data were accessed through a Swedish national population-based study and analysed using logistic regression. To examine possible differences between the two cohorts, interaction terms with each independent variable were analysed.

RESULTS: Being a man and working in a profession that requires at least three years of university education predicted that the person would still be active in working life at age 66 and 72. Additionally, having a light level of physical activity at work and being diagnosed with fewer than two diseases, also predicted still being active in working life at age 66. Only physical activity at work showed significant changes over time.

CONCLUSION: Shortly after a major reform of the public pension system, there was an increase in participation in working life after age 66 and 72. However, gender, profession, and health factors are still important considerations regarding older people’s participation in working life.

Since individual and societal expectations regarding the possibility of an extended working life after the expected retirement age are increasing, research on sustainable working life combined with healthy ageing is needed. This study explores the incentives behind and experiences of an extended working life after the expected retirement age of 65 among Swedish people. The inductive qualitative content analyses are based on 18 individual semi-structured interviews among persons 67–90 years old with varying characteristics and varying experiences of extended working lives. The analyses revealed that working contributed to (1) sustained internal resources, i.e., cognitive function, physical ability and increased vigor; (2) sustained external resources, i.e., social enrichment, better daily routines and economic benefits; (3) added meaningfulness to life, i.e., being needed, capability and satisfaction with working tasks. Meanwhile, having flexible working conditions enabled a satisfying balance between work and leisure. Altogether, these different aspects of overall health and working life were interpreted as contributing to increased feelings of vitality, the innermost dimension of health. Conclusions: regardless of biological age, our results indicate that being able to remain active in working life can be beneficial to vitality and could make these results valuable for both health-care personnel and employers.

BACKGROUND:In most Western countries, senior workers have increased their participation in the workforce. However, at the same time, early retirement also increases. The reasons behind this early exit from the workforce are still unclear.

OBJECTIVE:This qualitative study aims to explore the antecedents of and experiences with a voluntary exit from working life before the expected retirement age of 65 in Sweden.

METHODS:Data consist of semi-structured interviews with 18 participants who exited working life between the ages of 61–63. In Sweden, these ages are considered as an early exit from working life since, for many years, the expected retirement age has been 65. Qualitative content analysis with an abductive approach was utilized.

RESULTS:The analysis revealed four sub-themes: 1) Health benefits with an early exit from working life (with the categories: own health status, the possibility for recovery time, and avoidance of strain); 2) Having economic conditions that enable an early exit from working life (with the categories: offers from the employer and financial compromises); 3) Social benefits with an early exit from working life (with the categories: enabling more time with my social network and avoidance of unsatisfying social work environment); 4) Self-fulfillment activities during the senior years (with the categories: enabling time for activities beyond work and avoidance of decreased job satisfaction.

CONCLUSION:This variety of antecedents of and experiences with a voluntary early exit from working life before the expected retirement age highlights that the ongoing increased statutory retirement age also increases the risk for extended inequalities among the aging population.

Background. A crucial factor for social sustainability is equal health and social justice. With an aging population andincreased expectations on senior workers to prolong their working life, research focusing on sustainable working life incombination with healthy aging is needed.

Purpose. To explore factors related to and experiences of prolonging working life after the expected retirement age of65 among Swedish people.Methods. Cross-sectional and longitudinal data were used to assess associations with participation in working life atages 66 and 72. Additionally, qualitative data, based on 18 individual semi-structured interviews with workers 67–90years were used to gain an extended understanding of incentives for prolonged working life.

Findings. Male gender and profession were associated with participating in working life at age 72, additionally, fewerdiagnosed diseases and a light level of physical activity at work at 66. Senior workers described that workingcontributed to sustained internal and external resources, added meaningfulness to life and flexible working conditionsenabled a satisfying balance between work and leisure. Altogether, these different aspects of working life wereinterpreted as contributing to increased feelings of vitality, the innermost dimension of health.

Conclusion. Regardless of biological age, being able to remain active in working life can be beneficial to vitality.Actions to provide flexible working conditions, especially for disadvantaged senior workers, may facilitate working lifeafter the expected retirement age with extended equality.

There is a lack of research exploring emotional commitment to work in relation to eating attitudes. Since eating disorders are associated with adverse psychological and social consequences, work engagement could be affected. The purpose was to compare work engagement among women with and without disturbed eating (DE).

A cross-sectional survey using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire in a general population cohort of 26-36-year-old women (n=847). Threshold for DE was 1 SD above general population mean. Independent t-test was used to compare work engagement. Ethical approval (reg no:2014/401)

The level of work engagement was lower (p=0.02) among women with DE (mean 3.69 +-1.43) than women without DE (mean 4.06 +-1.18). The score for dedication was also lower (p=0.02) within the DE group (mean 3.74+-1.57 vs 4.22 +-1.26). However, vigour and absorption were not different.

The work engagement in the cohort was within the average range although women with DE had significantly lower emotional commitment to work. As work engagement is linked to business success, workplace growth and sustainability it seems important to explore tailored strategies to improve work engagement among women with DE.

Purpose

This study aimed not only to describe the development and implementation of the module but also to evaluate the nursing students' perceptions.

Design and Methods

A cross-sectional design including 101 students who were asked to participate and answer a survey. We describe the development of the pedagogic module Students Active Learning via Internet Observations based on situated learning.

Findings

The findings show that learning about service users' own lived experiences via web-based platforms was instructive according to the students: 81% agreed to a high or very high degree. Another important finding was that 96% of students responded that the module had clinical relevance for nursing work.

Practice Implications

We argue that learning that engages students with data that are contextually and culturally situated is important for developing competence in caregiving.

Background: Studies from various cultures show that a large number of adolescent girls have a wish to be thinner, and thus more often go on diets. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine if a wish to be thinner among Swedish girls contributes to the development of disturbed eating, and to describe motives for wishing to be thinner.

Methods: Following ethical approval (reg. no: 258/94; 2014/401) the Demographic and Dieting Questionnaire and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire were used in a general population cohort of 7-11year-old-girls (n=462), 20 years later in October 2015.Threshold for DE was 1 SD above general population mean. Chi-square tests providing OR were used.

Results: A wish to be thinner during adolescence increases the likelihood 3-5 times to develop disturbed eating during the following 20-year period. Self-described motives for the wish to be thinner was to “correspond to the societal ideal” and to “dealing with difficulties”.

Conclusions: For prevention, it is of importance to detect girls who wish to be thinner as early as possible. By considering the girls’ motives, preventive efforts might be perceived as more meaningful and relevant to the girls at risk of developing eating disorders.