Longitudinal Associations Between Work‐Related Factors and the Need for Recovery of Long‐Term Care Workers

TL;DR

This study finds that high job demands increase the need for recovery among long-term care workers, suggesting that improving job resources could help reduce this need.

Contribution

The study identifies quantitative job demands as a key factor increasing the need for recovery in long-term care workers.

Findings

Quantitative job demands are associated with a significant increase in the need for recovery over time.

Social support from colleagues does not significantly affect the need for recovery.

Improving job resources is recommended to balance job demands and reduce the need for recovery.

Abstract

Due to population aging, the need for long‐term care is increasing, while the workforce is decreasing. This leads to high workloads for those remaining in the workforce. An imbalance between job demands and job resources can lead to health problems through a high need for recovery (NFR). The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal associations of work‐related factors with NFR. We performed a one‐year prospective cohort study of long‐term care workers (n = 108). Mixed models were used to analyze the longitudinal associations between quantitative job demands and social support from colleagues with NFR. The longitudinal effect of quantitative job demands on NFR was 13.82 (95% CI 9.59; 18.05). No effect was found for social support on NFR (−0.15 (95% CI −0.38; 0.08)). Quantitative job demands are associated with an increase in NFR over time. As job demands in long‐term care are difficult to reduce, we suggest improving job resources to create the needed balance between job demands and job resources to prevent a high NFR and to improve the sustainable employability of long‐term care workers.

Trial Registration: Netherlands Trial Register, NL9627.

What this paper adds
○Need for recovery is associated with an imbalance between job demands and resources among long‐term care workers.○Quantitative job demands are associated with an increased need for recovery among long‐term care workers.○Mitigating job demands by increasing resources is recommended to reduce the need for recovery among long‐term care workers.

What this paper adds
○Need for recovery is associated with an imbalance between job demands and resources among long‐term care workers.○Quantitative job demands are associated with an increased need for recovery among long‐term care workers.○Mitigating job demands by increasing resources is recommended to reduce the need for recovery among long‐term care workers.

Need for recovery is associated with an imbalance between job demands and resources among long‐term care workers.

Quantitative job demands are associated with an increased need for recovery among long‐term care workers.

Mitigating job demands by increasing resources is recommended to reduce the need for recovery among long‐term care workers.