Gendered trajectories of work control and health outcomes in the middle years: a perspective from the rural Midwest.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to investigate whether increasing health heterogeneity during the middle years is attributed, at least in part, to the influence of varying levels of, and changes in, work control of the current midlife cohort.


METHODS
The study used four waves of data collected from 372 employed rural women and 320 employed men of the midlife cohort during a 10-year period. Variables included self-reported work control, stressful nonwork life events, and mental and physical health. The analyses used latent growth curve modeling.


RESULTS
The results partially supported the hypothesized pathways. For middle-aged men, work control directly influences health outcomes, whereas for middle-aged women work control indirectly influences health outcomes through the occurrence of stressful life events.


CONCLUSIONS
Through understanding these processes, work can be better designed to promote positive health outcomes, minimize negative health outcomes, and allow for better formulation and more effective implementation of health promotional programs.
Wickrama
K A S
KA
Institute of Social and Behavioral Research, Iowa State University, 2625 North Loop Drive, Ames, IA 50010, USA. s2kas@iastate.edu
Lorenz
Frederick O
FO
Fang
Shu-Ann
SA
Abraham
W Todd
WT
Elder
Glen H
GH
D003863:Depression; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007484:Iowa; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology