title: Work ability of young adults.
abstract: This paper reviews the themes related to work ability of young adults. Premature working discapacity causes significant economical and social costs in Finland compared to other Nordic countries and has for that reason been studied most intensively there. Work ability is an interaction of social, environmental and individual factors such as physical fitness, coping skills, social support behaviour and health behaviour. Environmental factors influencing work ability can be concrete, like physical and chemical exposures or more abstract like unemployment. The work ability of ageing people has been studied intensively, while work ability of young adults has not been properly evaluated so far. The worsened economic situation in Finland has meant an excessive work load for those who still have work. At the same time the risk of permanent unemployment is increasing. This polarizationing affects especially the young because they may fail to enter the working life. Also factors related to childhood may affect and even determine work ability in adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Oulu Regional Institute of Occupational Health, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laitinen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ek
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tammelin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pekkarinen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mielonen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Anttonen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rintamäki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation; D016526:Workload