title: Opportunities for recovery at work and excellent work ability - a cross-sectional population study among young workers.
abstract: Better opportunities for recovery at work are thought to be associated with work ability in a young workforce but evidence is scarce to lacking. The aim of this study was to examine cross-sectional associations between opportunities for recovery at work and excellent work ability among young workers and specifically for young workers with high work demands.
  
  
  
  A study group of 1295 women and 1056 men aged 18-29 years was selected from three biennial years of a population cohort. The subsample reporting high work demands consisted of 439 women and 349 men. The study group had completed a work environment questionnaire in a survey conducted by Statistics Sweden. Associations between opportunities for recovery at work and excellent work ability were assessed by multiple logistic regression models stratified for gender.
  
  
  
  Having varied work was associated with excellent work ability in all young men (p < 0.0006; prevalence ratio [PR] 1.3) and also specifically in men with high work demands (p = 0.019; PR 1.3). For the latter group the possibility of deciding when to perform a work task was also associated with excellent work ability (p = 0.049; PR 1.3). Among young women with high work demands, the possibility of deciding one's working hours was associated with excellent work ability (p = 0.046; PR 1.2).
  
  
  
  For young men, having varied work can contribute to excellent work ability. In addition, for men with high work demands, the possibility of deciding when to perform a work task may be favourable for excellent work ability. For young women with high work demands, the possibility of deciding one's working hours can contribute to excellent work ability. Employers could use these opportunities for recovery in promoting work ability among young workers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Postal: Box 414, SE 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden. maria.bostrom@amm.gu.se.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boström
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Center, Department: Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, PO Box 22700, 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Judith K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Sluiter
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Postal: Box 414, SE 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hagberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Postal: Box 414, SE 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden.|Health Metrics, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grimby-Ekman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D000066477:Work Performance; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Varied work; Work ability score; Work-health promotion; Worktime control; Young workforce