title: The relationship between work stress and work ability among power supply workers in Guangdong, China: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Faced with the challenge of population aging, a prolonged working life is increasingly important in today's society. Maintaining work ability of employees is one of the effective ways to cope with the challenges to sustainability of the workforce presented by population aging. Researchers have shown ongoing interest in exploring the determinants of restricted work ability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of work stress on work ability among power supply workers in Guangdong, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among power supply workers during August 2014 to September 2014. A total of 805 subjects were enrolled in the study. Work stress was assessed by the Job Content Questionnaire and the Effort Reward Imbalance Questionnaire. Work ability was assessed by the Work Ability Index (WAI). The structural equation model was applied to test the relationship between different work stress components and work ability simultaneously using the Job Demands-Resources model as a framework.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Job resources (measured by job control, reward and social support) were positively and directly associated with work ability (β = 0.70, P < 0.001). The association between job demands and work ability was also statistically significant (β = -0.09, P = 0.030). In addition, the findings also supported previous studies in that job demands were correlated with job resources (β = -0.26, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that decision makers and health care providers should consider increasing job resources available to power supply workers. Consideration of organizational changes related to the design of the job task also would be useful to improve the employees' work ability.
authors: Electric Power Research Institute of Guangdong Power Grid Corporation, Guangzhou, 510080, PR China.
authors: Hualiang
authors: H
authors: Li
authors: Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou, 510080, PR China.
authors: Zhiting
authors: Z
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou, 510080, PR China.
authors: Runzhong
authors: R
authors: Liu
authors: Electric Power Research Institute of Guangdong Power Grid Corporation, Guangzhou, 510080, PR China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Li
authors: Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou, 510080, PR China. linaihua@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors: Aihua
authors: A
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012201:Reward; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology*; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation