Arbeitsbedingungen und Gesundheit von Beschäftigten
Der Zusammenhang von Arbeitsbedingungen bzw. Arbeitsbelastungen und der Gesundheit von Beschäftigten erhält durch die demografische Entwicklung, Digitalisierung und Klimawandel neues Gewicht. Wie muss Arbeit gestaltet sein, damit die Beschäftigten langfristig und gesund erwerbstätig sein können?
Dieses Themendossier dokumentiert die Ergebnisse empirischer Forschung der letzten Jahre.
Im Filter „Autorenschaft“ können Sie auf IAB-(Mit-)Autorenschaft eingrenzen.
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Literaturhinweis
Self-employment, health, and health care: When the going gets tough, the tough get going? (2026)
Zitatform
Garrouste, Clémentine, Alain Paraponaris & Nicolas Sirven (2026): Self-employment, health, and health care: When the going gets tough, the tough get going? In: Economics and Human Biology, Jg. 60. DOI:10.1016/j.ehb.2025.101567
Abstract
"This study provides a life-course analysis of the relationship between self-employment, health, and health care use among individuals aged 50 and older in Europe. Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), we apply first-difference and dynamic panel data models that go beyond standard approaches in mitigating endogeneity concerns. Our findings show that the self-employed enjoy better health at younger ages, consistent with a selection effect. In addition, they experience a steeper decline in physical health over time. We also document two distinct phases of health care use: during working life, the self-employed are more likely to be hospitalised, suggesting delayed care until acute needs arise; after retirement, the number of medical visits increases, consistent with a lower opportunity cost of care." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Associations Between Employment and Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Reviews (2026)
Gerdes, Ryan ; Doroshenko, Alexander ; Els, Charl ; Jackson, Tanya D. ; Gross, Douglas P. ; Lytvyak, Ellina ; Straube, Sebastian ; Hagtvedt, Reidar ; Burton, A. Kim ; Roberts, Richard ; Dennett, Liz ; Deibert, Danika ;Zitatform
Gerdes, Ryan, Tanya D. Jackson, Richard Roberts, Ellina Lytvyak, Danika Deibert, Liz Dennett, A. Kim Burton, Douglas P. Gross, Charl Els, Alexander Doroshenko, Reidar Hagtvedt & Sebastian Straube (2026): Associations Between Employment and Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Reviews. In: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, S. 1-22. DOI:10.1007/s10926-025-10357-5
Abstract
"The subject of employment as a determinant of health has received considerable attention from researchers. To our knowledge, a comprehensive synthesis of evidence on the health effects of employment has not been completed in almost 20 years. This systematic review aimed to provide an up-to-date summary of the associations between employment status and any measurable domain of health. We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, and APA PsycINFO. We included peer-reviewed, full-text systematic reviews or overviews published in English between January 2012 and November 2024. Two reviewers independently screened resultant publications and extracted data from those found eligible for the review. Our search yielded 1862 reviews and meta-analyses, 49 of which were eligible for synthesis. Employment status was associated with several health domains including general health and wellbeing, mental health, alcohol and substance use disorders, cardiovascular health, systemic inflammation, sleep quality, cognitive functioning, and mortality. Being employed was almost universally associated with favourable physical and mental health outcomes, with evidence to suggest re-employment may facilitate improvements in health after a period of unemployment. Socioeconomic status was a notable factor which affected health outcomes for both employed and unemployed people, illustrative of social gradients in health. Insecure or low-quality work demonstrated the potential to override identified health benefits of work. Heterogeneity in the operationalization of employment across publications, and the influence of survivorship bias on health outcomes highlights a task for future research to establish causality in the relationship between employment status and health." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Multiple work demands and early retirement intention in Germany: A cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis (2026)
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Kaboth, Arthur & Sophie-Charlotte Meyer (2026): Multiple work demands and early retirement intention in Germany: A cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis. In: European Journal of Ageing, Jg. 23, H. 1. DOI:10.1007/s10433-026-00915-y
Abstract
"The present study examines the association between (multiple) physical and psychosocial work demands and the preference for early retirement among older German employees. The analyses are based on data from five waves (2015–2023) of the BAuA-Working Time Survey, including 32,686 person-year observations. The dependent variable is a binary indicator reflecting preference for early retirement versus statutory or later retirement. Cross-sectional analyses apply linear probability models (LPM) per wave, while longitudinal effects are assessed using pooled OLS (POLS), random-effects (RE), and fixed-effects (FE) estimators. Robustness checks include controls for health and job satisfaction. Cross-sectional models show positive and mostly significant associations between both physical and psychosocial work demands with early retirement preference. Psychosocial demands, particularly workload pressure and emotional demands, are consistently strong predictors. In longitudinal FE analysis, multiple psychosocial work demands remain meaningful and significant. The findings underscore the importance of multiple simultaneous psychosocial job demands, rather than only focusing on isolated working conditions, in shaping early retirement preferences. Despite modest coefficient sizes, these results based on retirement intentions (not actual exit decisions) highlight the necessity of a life-course perspective and targeted interventions to promote sustainable working lives." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Psychische Gesundheit im Beruf: Die Rolle der beruflichen Resilienz in Querschnitt- und Längsschnittanalysen zu Irritation, Stress und Burnout (2026)
Knispel, Jens; Slavchova, Veneta; Arling, Viktoria;Zitatform
Knispel, Jens, Veneta Slavchova & Viktoria Arling (2026): Psychische Gesundheit im Beruf: Die Rolle der beruflichen Resilienz in Querschnitt- und Längsschnittanalysen zu Irritation, Stress und Burnout. In: Zeitschrift für Arbeitswissenschaft, S. 1-11. DOI:10.1007/s41449-026-00515-7
Abstract
"Chronischer Stress am Arbeitsplatz gefährdet die psychische Gesundheit, kann zu Burnout führen und stellt ein Risiko für Beschäftigte und Unternehmen dar. Berufliche Resilienz mit ihren sieben Facetten (Optimismus, Akzeptanz, Lösungsorientierung, Selbstfürsorge, Netzwerkorientierung, Verantwortungsübernahme und Zukunftsplanung) wirkt dabei als Schutzfaktor: In einer Querschnittstudie mit 235 Berufstätigen zeigte sich, dass höhere Resilienz mit geringerem Stresserleben und weniger Burnout-Symptomen verbunden ist. Eine Längsschnittstudie mit 110 Beschäftigten über vier Wochen verdeutlichte zudem wechselseitige Effekte zwischen Resilienz und emotionaler Irritation als frühes Warnsignal psychischer Belastung: Akzeptanz, Selbstfürsorge, Netzwerkorientierung und Verantwortungsübernahme reduzierten Irritation im Zeitverlauf, während hohe Irritation die Resilienzfacetten Optimismus, Selbstfürsorge und Netzwerkorientierung minderte. Die Befunde unterstreichen die Bedeutung von Resilienzförderung und irritationsarmer Arbeitsgestaltung zur Prävention von Stressfolgen und Burnout. Praktische Relevanz : Die Ergebnisse verdeutlichen, dass Resilienzförderung im Beruf und die gezielte Reduktion emotionaler Irritation zentrale Ansatzpunkte sein können, um Stressfolgen und Burnout vorzubeugen und langfristig gesunde Arbeitsbedingungen zu schaffen. Die sieben Säulen der beruflichen Resilienz bieten konkrete Ansatzpunkte zur Prävention." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
When caring comes at a cost: Psychological wellbeing of unpaid and paid carers and the role of social expenditure (2026)
Zitatform
Lightman, Naomi & Anthony Kevins (2026): When caring comes at a cost: Psychological wellbeing of unpaid and paid carers and the role of social expenditure. In: Journal of European Social Policy, Jg. 36, H. 2, S. 150-164. DOI:10.1177/09589287251356978
Abstract
"This study examines whether, and under what conditions, unpaid and paid care work are associated with reduced psychological wellbeing. The article begins by laying out a shared theoretical framework for understanding the psychological consequences of care among both unpaid and paid carers. It then tests the empirical implications of this framework, conducting multi-level model analysis of European Quality of Life Survey and European Social Survey data and: (1) disaggregating care work based on (a) the care recipient – i.e., adults or children – for unpaid carers and (b) the level of occupational professionalization for paid carers; and (2) examining the potential intervening role of social expenditure. Findings demonstrate that unpaid caring for adults (though not children) is associated with a marginal decrease in psychological wellbeing, but that this dynamic is limited to countries with smaller welfare states. Among paid care workers, only paraprofessionals are found to have lower levels of psychological wellbeing than comparable non-care workers – but here again increased social expenditure appears to have a significant buffering effect. Together, results reinforce the need for robust social spending to mitigate negative psychological consequences of care, while adding important nuance regarding the relevance of the type of care work being performed." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Minimum Wages and Work Pressure (2026)
Zitatform
Nagler, Markus & Erwin Winkler (2026): Minimum Wages and Work Pressure. (CESifo working paper 12460), München, 27 S.
Abstract
"A large literature investigates the employment effects of minimum wages, with comparatively little evidence on other adjustment margins. In this paper, we analyze the impact of a nationwide introduction of minimum wages in Germany on employer-induced work pressure, using detailed worker-level survey data. Applying a difference-in-differences approach, we show that the introduction of minimum wages increased work pressure in occupations more exposed to the minimum wage. The increase in work pressure cannot be explained by compositional changes in terms of demographics, job complexity, or hours worked." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Stressful work experience over time and depression in late midlife: results from a longitudinal cohort study in Germany (2026)
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Prel, Jean-Baptist du, Johannes Siegrist, Max Rohrbacher & Hans Martin Hasselhorn (2026): Stressful work experience over time and depression in late midlife: results from a longitudinal cohort study in Germany. In: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, Jg. 61, H. 3, S. 485-495. DOI:10.1007/s00127-025-03005-z
Abstract
"Previous prospective findings of elevated risk of depression following exposure to stressful work in terms of effort-reward imbalance (ERI) were based on a single exposure measurement. With this study, we set out to analyse longitudinal associations of single and twofold exposure measurement with depression among middle-aged employees. Data were derived from the first two waves (2011 and 2014) of the prospective lidA cohort study in Germany, including 3,104 middle-aged employed men and women. Participants with depression at baseline were excluded. Work stress (effort-reward ER) ratio and work-related over-commitment (WOC) and depression (Beck’s Depression Inventory) were assessed at both waves. Time-invariant (birth year, sex, education) and time-varying covariates (employment, control, physical health) were adjusted for. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the odds of depression for single or twofold high exposure, and generalized estimation equations (GEE) to analyze mean associations between moderate and high exposure and outcome over both waves. 5.9% of male and 9.8% of female participants experienced depression during the observation period. Cases were more frequent among those scoring high on work stress measures, those with poor physical health and part-time work. In the fully adjusted GEE model, the estimated risk ratio of depression was 1.60 (95%-CI: 1.05; 2.44) for moderate and 2.49 (1.67; 3.71) for high exposure to ERI work stress on average over time. Similar effects were observed for WOC. Elevated risk ratios of depression were observed in associations with moderate and high exposure to stressful work (ERI) over time." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Job exposures, employer characteristics, and risk of reduced work capacity: a 10-year cohort study of Norwegian workers (2026)
Zitatform
Ulstein, Julie, Cedric Andersen Lyngroth & Åsmund Hermansen (2026): Job exposures, employer characteristics, and risk of reduced work capacity: a 10-year cohort study of Norwegian workers. In: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, Jg. 99, H. 1. DOI:10.1007/s00420-025-02195-y
Abstract
"This study investigates the impact of biomechanical and psychosocial job exposures on risk of reduced work capacity in a complete cohort of Norwegian workers, and examines whether this impact varies by employer sector, size, and organizational policies. Using high-quality Norwegian registry data, we followed a cohort of workers from age 40 over a ten-year period. Biomechanical and psychosocial job exposures were estimated using two validated job exposure matrices. Individuals with a prior history of reduced work capacity were excluded to limit confounding. Using Cox proportional hazard models, we assessed the association between levels of job exposure and risk of reduced work capacity, including moderation analyses by employer characteristics. Both biomechanical and psychosocial job exposures were significantly associated with reduced work capacity, particularly among the top 60% of exposed workers. While employer size and organizational policies somewhat moderated this impact, their influence was inconsistent. Notably, policies aimed at retaining workers with reduced capacity did not appear to mitigate the impact of the job exposures, while there was no variation in impact according to employer sector. Biomechanical and psychosocial job exposures are associated with an increased risk of reduced work capacity, with some variation in impact according to employer characteristics. These results indicate the importance of exposure-reducing interventions in the workplace, especially in occupations with high levels of biomechanical and psychosocial exposures." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Psychische Belastung bei Polizeibeschäftigten (2026)
Zitatform
(2026): Psychische Belastung bei Polizeibeschäftigten. (Kompakt : DGB-Index Gute Arbeit 2026,01), Berlin, 10 S.
Abstract
"Die Arbeit von Polizistinnen und Polizisten ist durch besondere Anforderungen gekennzeichnet. Ihre Tätigkeit ist durch Kommunikation und Interaktion mit anderen Menschen geprägt. Dabei kann es zu Konflikten und auch zu körperlichen Auseinandersetzungen kommen. Die damit verbundenen Anforderungen und Belastungen sind Gegenstand der Auswertung des DGB-Index Gute Arbeit "Psychische Belastung bei Polizeibeschäftigten". In den Befragungsdaten wird die Konflikthaftigkeit der Polizeiarbeit deutlich sichtbar. Die Hälfte der befragten Polizist*innen gibt an, bei der Arbeit sehr häufig oder oft Konflikten ausgesetzt zu sein. Bei Beschäftigten aus anderen Berufsgruppen liegt der Anteil im Durchschnitt bei 14 Prozent. Auch von respektloser Behandlung sind Polizist*innen häufiger betroffen als die Angehörigen anderer Berufe. Hohe Werte weisen Polizist*innen auch bei arbeitsbedingten psychischen Belastungen auf. Zeitdruck und widersprüchliche Anforderungen werden jeweils von mehr als der Hälfte der Befragten berichtet. Arbeitsverdichtung betrifft mehr als 40 Prozent in (sehr) hohem Maß. Die Auswertung belegt die starken psychischen und emotionalen Belastungen, mit denen Polizeibeschäftigte bei ihrer Tätigkeit konfrontiert sind, und die Notwendigkeit an einer präventiven und gesundheitsförderlichen Arbeitsgestaltung." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
Bullying in education: Prevalence, impact and responses across countries (2026)
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(2026): Bullying in education: Prevalence, impact and responses across countries. (OECD education working papers 341), Paris, 56 S. DOI:10.1787/d9f8bd9f-en
Abstract
"Bullying, whether in person or online, is a barrier to inclusive, high-quality education and to cohesive societies. This OECD working paper documents bullying prevalence and trends across OECD and accession countries between 2015 and 2022, using PISA data. Regression analyses point to marked disparities in bullying exposure across student groups, with socio-economically advantaged boys with an immigrant background facing particularly elevated risks. The paper also synthesises evidence on how bullying can harm individual students, and how these individual effects can spill over to schools and, over time, generate wider social and economic costs. It then reviews strategies to prevent and respond to bullying, encompassing both national-level policies and school-based initiatives. The paper concludes with policy implications concerning a coherent anti-bullying system-level strategy, strengthened school staff capacity, school interventions combining universal prevention with targeted support, routine prevalence monitoring and robust impact evaluations." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
The Job Demand-Resources (JD-R) model through the eyes of financial advisers: A scoping review (2025)
Arthur, Phoebe; Morrison, Ben; Earl, Joanne K.;Zitatform
Arthur, Phoebe, Ben Morrison & Joanne K. Earl (2025): The Job Demand-Resources (JD-R) model through the eyes of financial advisers: A scoping review. In: Australian journal of management. DOI:10.1177/03128962251350337
Abstract
"This scoping review examines the job demands and resources impacting financial advisers through the lens of the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model. Given the significant challenges facing financial advisers, this review identifies key factors contributing to job stress, satisfaction and turnover in the profession. A comprehensive desktop review and thematic analysis of 53 peer-reviewed articles revealed core job demands such as compliance, emotional strain, and work overload, alongside critical job resources like professional development, support and technology. In addition, personal resources, including self-efficacy and optimism, are explored as potential moderators. The findings offer insights into the complex dynamics within the financial advisory industry, providing a foundation for future studies that may look to enhance job satisfaction and retention." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Fehlzeiten-Report 2025: KI und Gesundheit - Möglichkeiten nutzen, Risiken bewältigen, Orientierung geben (2025)
Zitatform
Badura, Bernhard, Antje Ducki, Markus Meyer, Johanna Baumgardt & Helmut Schröder (Hrsg.) (2025): Fehlzeiten-Report 2025. KI und Gesundheit - Möglichkeiten nutzen, Risiken bewältigen, Orientierung geben. (Fehlzeiten-Report 27), Berlin: Springer, 735 S. DOI:10.1007/978-3-662-71885-8
Abstract
"Der jährlich erscheinende Fehlzeiten-Report informiert umfassend über die Entwicklung des Krankenstandes von Beschäftigten in Deutschland. Neben detaillierten Sekundäranalysen von Versichertendaten werden empirische Studienergebnisse, zeitgemäße methodische Herangehensweisen und Leuchtturmprojekte der Betrieblichen Gesundheitsförderung vorgestellt. Vor dem Hintergrund aktueller technischer Entwicklungen beleuchtet der Fehlzeiten-Report 2025 schwerpunktmäßig Chancen und Herausforderungen des Einsatzes von Künstlicher Intelligenz (KI) in der Arbeitswelt. Er bietet einen orientierenden Überblick zu den Auswirkungen des Einsatzes von KI auf die betriebliche Gesundheitsförderung, Arbeitsumgebungen, Führung und Beschäftigte in Organisationen und erörtert aus unterschiedlichen Perspektiven u.a die folgenden Fragen: - Wie kann KI so zum Einsatz gebracht werden, dass die menschlichen Fähigkeiten erweitert und gleichzeitig die Gesundheit der Beschäftigten und die individuelle Privatsphäre geschützt werden? - Wie gelingt die Entwicklung von KI-Systemen, in denen Mensch und Maschine produktiv zusammenarbeiten? - Welche wissenschaftlich fundierten Lösungsansätze zum menschen- und gesundheitszentrierten Umgang mit KI gibt es im Arbeitsschutz und der betrieblichen Gesundheitsförderung? Darüber hinaus liefert der Fehlzeiten-Report 2025 in gewohnter Qualität Daten und Analysen zu Fehlzeiten von Beschäftigten in Deutschland: - Aktuelle Statistiken zum Krankenstand in allen Branchen - Vergleichende Analysen nach Berufsgruppen, Bundesländern und Städten - Die wichtigsten für Arbeitsunfähigkeit verantwortlichen Krankheitsarten - Detaillierte Auswertungen u.a. zu Arbeitsunfällen, Langzeitarbeitsunfähigkeit, Burnout und Kinderkrankengeld. Zudem gibt es vor dem Hintergrund der aktuellen Diskussion um hohe Fehlzeiten einen Beitrag zur Einführung von Karenztagen und möglichen Effekten einer Absenkung der Lohnersatzrate." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
Health trends among workers in Germany and the role of changing job activities and working conditions (2025)
Zitatform
Beller, Johannes, Julia Grasshoff, Batoul Safieddine & Stefanie Sperlich (2025): Health trends among workers in Germany and the role of changing job activities and working conditions. In: Scientific Reports, Jg. 15, H. 1. DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-25692-z
Abstract
"Previous studies have found some evidence for worsening health trends in working age adults. This study aims to further investigate the time trends in self-rated health among workers and explore the potential role of changes in job activities and working conditions in explaining these trends. Data from the BIBB/BAuA Employment Surveys conducted in 2006, 2012, and 2018 were analyzed (N = 53,747, age 15+). The study variables included self-rated health as the dependent variable, and time period, age, gender, education, working hours, physical work activities, cognitive work activities, ergonomic working conditions, environmental working conditions, work intensity, work control, and work support as predictors. Logistic regression and mediation analyses were employed to study the associations between these variables and self-rated health over time periods. The findings revealed a significant deterioration in self-rated health among workers over the study period, alongside an aging and more educated workforce. Additionally, several working conditions and work activities underwent changes, with work becoming generally less physically demanding and more cognitively and psychosocially demanding. The changes in job activities and working conditions partly explained the negative trends in self-rated health, with work control and environmental conditions being most important. In conclusion, worsening trends in self-rated health among the working population were found. While changes in the world of work (especially perceived work control and hazardous environmental conditions) contribute to these trends, they constitute only part of the explanation. Further research is needed to identify further intermediary determinants driving these trends and develop targeted interventions to promote worker health and well-being." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Health patterns in the working population: latent class analysis of physical and psychological complaints in Germany (2025)
Zitatform
Beller, Johannes, Batoul Safieddine, Julia Grasshoff & Jelena Epping (2025): Health patterns in the working population: latent class analysis of physical and psychological complaints in Germany. In: Journal of Public Health, S. 1-11. DOI:10.1007/s10389-025-02472-7
Abstract
"Aim: This study aimed to identify distinct patterns of health complaints among German workers and investigate their associations with socioeconomic factors. Subject and methods: Latent class analysis was performed on data from the BIBB/BAuA Employment Survey, which included 19,320 employed respondents aged 15 years and above. The analysis considered 21 physical and psychological health complaints, such as headache, back pain, fatigue, irritability, and depressiveness. The identified health complaint classes were compared via sociodemographic indicators, including age, gender, occupation, working hours, and education. Results: Four classes of health complaints were identified: “Low Overall Complaints” (low prevalence of all complaints; 40% of the sample), “Physical Complaints” (high prevalence of physical complaints but low prevalence of psychological complaints; 25% of the sample), “Psychological Complaints” (high prevalence of psychological complaints but low prevalence of physical complaints; 20% of the sample), and “High Overall Complaints” (high prevalence of both physical and psychological complaints; 15% of the sample). The classes differed most strongly according to occupational group, gender and education. Participants in high-skilled white-collar occupations were more likely to belong to the Low Overall Complaints and Psychological Complaints classes, while those in blue-collar occupations were more likely to belong to the Physical Complaints and High Overall Complaints classes. Conclusion: This study revealed four distinct patterns of health complaints in the German working population, differing in severity (low symptom burden vs. high symptom burden) as well as content (physical vs. psychological symptoms). A substantial proportion of workers experienced multiple physical, psychological, or overall health issues (60%). The differences between the classes were primarily related to occupation, highlighting the importance of occupational health research for public health. As the world of work evolves with an increasing proportion of high-skilled white-collar occupations, a rise in psychological health complaints is anticipated in the future." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Mental well-being and work capacity: a cross-sectional study in a sample of the Swedish working population (2025)
Blomberg, Agneta ; Staland-Nyman, Carin ; Björk, Lisa ; Hensing, Gunnel ; Bertilsson, Monica ; Ståhl, Christian ;Zitatform
Blomberg, Agneta, Gunnel Hensing, Monica Bertilsson, Carin Staland-Nyman, Christian Ståhl & Lisa Björk (2025): Mental well-being and work capacity: a cross-sectional study in a sample of the Swedish working population. In: BMC public health, Jg. 25. DOI:10.1186/s12889-025-24015-1
Abstract
"Background: Mental health problems are common in the working-age population. More knowledge is needed on how to support work participation and reduce sickness absence. The objective of the study was to estimate the distribution of mental well-being and work capacity in women and men in a working population and assess the association between mental well-being and work capacity, while adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and working positions. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected through an online survey distributed to individuals who were currently working. The study population consisted of 8462 employees (58% women). The WHO-5 Mental Well-being Index (scale ranging from 0 to 100 with higher scores representing a better mental well-being) and the Capacity to Work Instrument (C2WI) (scale ranging from 14 to 56 with higher scores representing a more strained work capacity) were used. Univariable and multivariable linear regressions were used to assess the associations between self-perceived mental well-being and capacity to work, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and working positions. Results: Low self-perceived mental well-being and strained work capacity were more common among women, particularly younger aged (18–34 years). Poor health status was associated with strained work capacity in both men and women. Regression analyses showed that lower self-perceived mental well-being was significantly associated with strained work capacity. Among women, the fully adjusted model showed a regression coefficient (B) of − 0.253 (95% CI: −0.264 to − 0.242); among men, it was − 0.225 (95% CI: −0.237 to − 0.213). Conclusions: This study, focusing on a currently working population, identified disparities in self-perceived mental well-being and work capacity across gender and age groups. These findings underscore the importance of early workplace interventions to support mental well-being and work capacity in these sub-groups. Notably, the association between the WHO-5 and C2WI may be partly attributable to item-level overlap, as certain C2WI items may capture symptoms related to mental health. This potential overlap should be considered when interpreting the findings." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Occupational-class trends in diagnosis-specific sickness absence in Finland: a register-based observational study in 2011–2021 (2025)
Zitatform
Blomgren, Jenni & Riku Perhoniemi (2025): Occupational-class trends in diagnosis-specific sickness absence in Finland: a register-based observational study in 2011–2021. In: BMJ open, Jg. 15, H. 2. DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-098001
Abstract
"Objectives: To examine the prevalence and days of long-term sickness absence (LTSA) by occupational class and by most important diagnostic groups in Finland during 2011–2021. Design: Population-based cross-sectional study. Setting and participants: National comprehensive register data were linked for all employed persons and entrepreneurs in Finland aged 25–64 for years 2011–2021 (yearly number of individuals in the study population around 2 million persons). Main outcome measures: LTSA was measured by sickness allowance that covers over 10-day long absences. Yearly age-standardised LTSA prevalences and average number of LTSA days were calculated for women and men in four occupational classes, separately for all-cause LTSA and LTSA due to mental disorders, musculoskeletal diseases and injuries. Modified Poisson regression and negative binomial regression models were run to assess relative differences between occupational classes, adjusted for age, marital status, education and region of residence. Results: All-cause LTSA slightly decreased between years 2011 and 2021, but the trends varied by occupational class and diagnostic group. LTSA due to mental disorders increased in all occupational classes after 2016 among both sexes, while LTSA due to musculoskeletal diseases and injuries continued to decrease in all occupational classes. The increase in LTSA due to mental disorders was largest among lower non-manual employees, especially among women, whereby all-cause LTSA prevalence among female lower non-manual employees reached the level of female manual workers. Men showed broadly similar trends, but manual workers still had the highest all-cause LTSA prevalence at the end of the study period. The main results were similar adjusted for covariates. Conclusions: The magnitude and order of the occupational-class differences in LTSA changed between 2011 and 2021, along with increasing LTSA due to mental disorders, especially among employees, and decreasing LTSA due to somatic diagnoses, especially among manual workers. Occupational-class differences should be taken into account when aiming to prevent LTSA and especially further increases in LTSA due to mental disorders." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Gute Arbeit in Berlin: Ergebnisse einer Beschäftigtenbefragung im Rahmen des ‚DGB-Index Gute Arbeit‘ (2025)
Brunsen, Hendrik; Busse, Britta; Wolnik, Kevin; Wenzel, Lisbeth;Zitatform
Brunsen, Hendrik, Britta Busse, Kevin Wolnik & Lisbeth Wenzel (2025): Gute Arbeit in Berlin. Ergebnisse einer Beschäftigtenbefragung im Rahmen des ‚DGB-Index Gute Arbeit‘. Berlin, 119 S.
Abstract
"Die Ergebnisse zeigen, an welchen Stellen Beschäftigte ausgebremst oder benachteiligt werden und wo gewonnene Energie eingebüßt wird, aber auch was Beschäftigte an ihrer Arbeit schätzen und woraus sie Motivation und Antrieb ziehen. Dazu wurden beispielsweise Fragen zu den Themen Personalmangel, Einkommen und flexible Arbeitszeiten gestellt und diese unter anderem nach Gleichstellungskriterien ausgewertet. Als Senatorin für Arbeit, Soziales, Gleichstellung, Integration, Vielfalt und Antidiskriminierung ist es mir besonders wichtig, arbeitsmarktrelevante Verbesserungen anzustoßen. Für weitergehende Überlegungen und Diskussionen bieten die vorliegenden Daten eine hervorragende Grundlage. Wobei auch klar ist: Es geht um mehr als Zahlen - es geht um Menschen. Aus den Ergebnissen geht hervor, dass 47 Prozent der Beschäftigten in Berlin in (sehr) hohem Maß von den Folgen des Personalmangels betroffen sind. Besonders deutlich wird dieser Mangel in den Gesundheitsberufen, den Informatikberufen, den naturwissenschaftlichen Berufen sowie in den Verkehrs-, Logistik-, Sicherheits- und Reinigungsberufen bemerkbar. Für Beschäftigte heißt dies häufig zusätzliche Aufgaben und Überlastung, was zur Verschlechterung der Arbeitsbedingungen und der Arbeitsqualität sowie zu sinkender Arbeitszufriedenheit führen kann. Die Umbrüche durch Digitalisierung, demographischen Wandel und die klimagerechte Transformation von Wirtschaft und Arbeitswelt werden branchenbezogene Personal- und Fachkräftebedarfe weiter erhöhen. Der Senat arbeitet auch vor diesem Hintergrund an einer umfassenden Fachkräftestrategie, die Unternehmen und Beschäftigte bei der Transformation unterstützt, bisher ungenutzte Fachkräftepotentiale erschließt und die Aus- und Weiterbildung künftiger Fachkräfte befördern soll. Schlechte Arbeitsbedingungen und Unzufriedenheit der Beschäftigten haben unterschiedliche Ursachen. Eine der am häufigsten angegebenen Belastungsgründe ist eine nicht auskömmliche Bezahlung. Insgesamt 78 Prozent der Befragten, die ihr Einkommen als nicht ausreichend einschätzen, fühlen sich davon (eher) stark belastet. Männer fühlen sich von geringerer Bezahlung stärker belastet. Frauen sind aber in der Regel diejenigen, die durchschnittlich weniger Einkommen erzielen. So lag der Gender-Pay-Gap 2024 immer noch bei 16 Prozent. Um die Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf besser meistern zu können, sind neben der Bezahlung auch alternative Unterstützungsangebote von Arbeitgebenden wie die Nutzung von Homeoffice oder flexible Arbeitszeiten insbesondere für Beschäftigte, die Care Arbeit leisten, sehr wichtig. Vornehmlich in Bezug auf Homeoffice ist hier in über der Hälfte der Betriebe noch Luft nach oben. Ein umso erfreulicheres Ergebnis der Befragung ist, dass sich insgesamt nur sehr wenige Befragte Sorgen um ihre berufliche Zukunft machen. Es ist besonders wichtig, in Mitarbeitende zu investieren und sie weiterzubilden, um ihnen Fähigkeiten im Umgang mit neuen Entwicklungen wie künstlicher Intelligenz mitzugeben." (Textauszug, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
Precarious employment and gender-based violence against migrant women: A scoping review mapping the intersections (2025)
Chadambuka, Cyndirela ; Raghunauth, Rhea; Arora, Navya; Essue, Beverley M. ; Namyalo, Prossy Kiddu ; Kouyoumdjian, Fiona;Zitatform
Chadambuka, Cyndirela, Prossy Kiddu Namyalo, Rhea Raghunauth, Navya Arora, Fiona Kouyoumdjian & Beverley M. Essue (2025): Precarious employment and gender-based violence against migrant women. A scoping review mapping the intersections. In: PLoS ONE, Jg. 20, H. 12. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0337690
Abstract
"The risk of gender-based violence (GBV) against migrant women is largely exacerbated by precarious employment opportunities available to them as they go through the resettlement process. Despite the risk that the connection of precarious employment and GBV pose to migrant women’s health and wellbeing, critical gaps exist in literature. Our scoping review sought to identify and synthesize evidence on the interconnectedness of GBV and precarious employment among migrant women. Six electronic databases were searched for empirical literature and two reviewers independently conducted title/abstract and full text screening of studies that met the inclusion criteria. Data synthesis was guided by the intersectionality theory and the Feminist Political Economy framework. 50 articles met the criteria for inclusion in this review. Our findings reveal that precarious employment plays both a catalytic and consequential role in GBV. Findings highlighted how post-migration shifts in gender roles, schedule unpredictability leading to work-life imbalance, and debt bondage trap migrant women in cycles of exploitation and abuse. Few studies highlighted how human trafficking is intertwined with precarious labor markets, where the exploitation and abuse of migrant women mirror the characteristics of human trafficking. This review underscores the urgent need for integrated policy responses that are not only focused on individual supports but also address the structural drivers or labor precarity and protect migrant women from GBV and human trafficking. By applying an intersectional lens, policies and intervention programs can tackle systemic oppression across economic, and social systems essential in reducing exploitation and abuse to advance migrant women’s wellbeing." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
When work loses its meaning: Voice or exit? A longitudinal analysis with the 2013–2016 French Working Conditions surveys (2025)
Zitatform
Coutrot, Thomas & Coralie Perez (2025): When work loses its meaning: Voice or exit? A longitudinal analysis with the 2013–2016 French Working Conditions surveys. In: Economic and Industrial Democracy, S. 1-27. DOI:10.1177/0143831x251358583
Abstract
"Although generating increasing debate in the media and in society, meaningful work has only recently become a legitimate research object in labour economics. The authors theoretically ground the concept of meaningful work by drawing on the theory of the psychodynamics of work. This leads to three dimensions of the meaning of work: social usefulness, ethical coherence and development capacity. Then, they propose an empirical measure of this concept using the French Working Conditions surveys. Exploiting the surveys’ longitudinal nature (2013–2016), they assess how workers react to meaningless work (exit or voice). Using instrumental variable techniques to alleviate endogeneity biases that may affect estimations, they conclude that meaningless work favours job quits and, to a lesser degree, unionization." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Employment Quality and Mental Health in Germany: the Mismatch of Low Employment Quality with Work and Family Values by Gender (2025)
Zitatform
De Moortel, Deborah, Rebeka Balogh, Miriam Engels & Julie Vanderleyden (2025): Employment Quality and Mental Health in Germany: the Mismatch of Low Employment Quality with Work and Family Values by Gender. In: Social Science & Medicine, Jg. 371. DOI:10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117906
Abstract
"Empirical evidence on whether low-quality employment is detrimental to workers’ mental health is mostly cross-sectional and empirical evidence on pathways linking employment quality (EQ) to mental health remains scarce. Consequently, this study examines subsequent mental health associations of low-quality employment. Associations between EQ and mental health are investigated through a typology of employment arrangements. This study also investigates whether the relation between EQ types and subsequent mental health is different for workers with varying intensities of work and family values (i.e., importance of success at work and of having children, respectively) across genders. Using a large representative German panel dataset and Latent Class Cluster Analysis, EQ types are built and linked to mental health two years later. We assess two- and three-way interactions between EQ types and values, and between EQ types, gender and values, respectively. We found six EQ types: SER-like, precarious unsustainable, precarious full-time, SER-light, portfolio and protected part-time employment. Controlled for socio-demographic characteristics, precarious unsustainable employment for men and precarious full-time employment for women were associated to lower mental health after two years, compared to SER-like employment. Although protected part-time employment related to worse mental health for those with moderate to strong work and family values, compared to those with mild values, the interactions show an unclear pattern of the moderating role of values for the relation between EQ and subsequent mental health, for both men and women. This study should be replicated in other countries to confirm similar associations." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.) ((en))