Effects of self-rated mental and physical work demands on cognition are dependent in a cross-sectional sample of the Health and Retirement Study.

ABSTRACT: This study assessed whether self-rated physical and mental work demands were associated with cognition among older working adults and whether their effects were dependent. The cross-sectional sample consisted of 6,377 working older adults using the Health and Retirement Study in 2004. Self-rated work demands were summarized from four questions about the frequency of mental or physical demands in the respondent's current job. Cognition was assessed using a subset of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. Multivariable linear regression assessed the associations and additive interaction between physical and mental work demands and cognition, adjusted for age, sex, race, education, and practice effect. Independently, higher physical work demands were associated with poorer cognition (c

SUBMITTER: Hickman RC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12638007 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature