Are changes in perceived physical workload and strenuousness of work among partial disability pensioners associated with full disability pension?

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the changes in pensioners' perceived physical workload and the physical strenuousness of work before and after transition to partial disability pension (pDP), and whether these changes were associated with subsequent transition to full disability pension (fDP).

Methods: We used survey data on physical workload and the physical strenuousness of work and covariates from the Helsinki Health Study, an occupational cohort measured in four phases: 2000-2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017. These data were prospectively linked to the Finnish Centre for Pensions' register data on pDP and fDP up to 2021 for those who had provided informed consent for such linkage (mean follow-up of 3 years). We included those who responded to the study surveys both before and after pDP (n = 235). Changes after transition to pDP in the physical strenuousness of work and in a constructed physical workload summary scale were analysed using log-binomial regression.

Results: After transition to pDP, physical workload decreased among 20% of the participants, remained constantly low among 44% and constantly high among 36%. The changes in the physical strenuousness of work were similar. Thirty per cent (n = 70) of pDPs transitioned to fDP during the follow-up. The changes in physical workload or the physical strenuousness of work were not associated with transition to fDP.

Conclusions: Despite the transition to pDP and thus part-time work, perceived physical workload and the physical strenuousness of work remained stable, and were not reflected in transition to fDP. More research on larger samples is warranted.