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The Association between Education and Work Stress: Does the Policy Context Matter?

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  • Thorsten Lunau
  • Johannes Siegrist
  • Nico Dragano
  • Morten Wahrendorf

Abstract

Objectives: Several studies report socioeconomic differences in work stress, where people in lower socioeconomic positions (SEP) are more likely to experience this burden. In the current study, we analyse associations between education and work stress in a large sample of workers from 16 European countries. In addition we explore whether distinct national labour market policies are related to smaller inequalities in work stress according to educational attainment. Methods: We use data collected in 2010/11 in two comparative studies (‘Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe’ and the ‘English Longitudinal Study of Ageing’; N = 13695), with samples of men and women aged 50 to 64 from 16 European countries. We measure highest educational degree according to the international standard classification of education (ISCED) and assess work stress in terms of the demand-control and the effort-reward imbalance model. National labour market policies are measured on the basis of policy indicators which are divided into (1) ‘protective’ policies offering financial compensation to those excluded from the labour market (e.g. replacement rate), and (2) ‘integrative’ policies supporting disadvantaged individuals on the labour market (e.g. investments into active labour market policies or possibilities for further qualification in later life). In addition to country-specific analyses, we estimate multilevel models and test for interactions between the indicators of national policies and individual education. Results: Main findings demonstrate consistent associations between lower education and higher levels of work stress in all countries. The strength of this association, however, varies across countries and is comparatively small in countries offering pronounced ‘integrative’ policies, in terms of high investments into measures of an active labor market policy and high participation rates in lifelong learning activities. Conclusions: Our results point to different types of policies that may help to reduce educational differences in work stress, in particular policies supporting those who are disadvantaged on the labour market.

Suggested Citation

  • Thorsten Lunau & Johannes Siegrist & Nico Dragano & Morten Wahrendorf, 2015. "The Association between Education and Work Stress: Does the Policy Context Matter?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(3), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0121573
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121573
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    1. Adriaan Kalwij, 2019. "The socio-economic status gradient in median lifespan by birth cohorts: Evidence from Dutch Olympic athletes born between 1852 and 1947," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(12), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Shervin Assari & Mohsen Bazargan, 2019. "Unequal Associations between Educational Attainment and Occupational Stress across Racial and Ethnic Groups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-11, September.
    3. Syeda A. Tanveer & Ashar Afaq & Montaser N. Alqutub & Nada Aldahiyan & Abdulrahman M. AlMubarak & Amynah C. Shaikh & Mustafa Naseem & Fahim Vohra & Tariq Abduljabbar, 2021. "Association of Self-Perceived Psychological Stress with the Periodontal Health of Socially Deprived Women in Shelter Homes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-8, May.
    4. Galit Weinstein, 2016. "Childhood conditions and current physical performance among non-institutionalized individuals aged 50+ in Israel," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 13(4), pages 335-347, December.
    5. Florian Junne & Martina Michaelis & Eva Rothermund & Felicitas Stuber & Harald Gündel & Stephan Zipfel & Monika A. Rieger, 2018. "The Role of Work-Related Factors in the Development of Psychological Distress and Associated Mental Disorders: Differential Views of Human Resource Managers, Occupational Physicians, Primary Care Phys," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-17, March.
    6. Jana Mäcken, 2019. "Work stress among older employees in Germany: Effects on health and retirement age," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(2), pages 1-13, February.

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