Face Validity of the Single Work Ability Item: Comparison with Objectively Measured Heart Rate Reserve over Several Days

Nidhi Gupta, Bjørn Søvsø Jensen, Karen Søgaard, Isabella Gomes Carneiro, Caroline Stordal Christiansen, Christiana Hanisch and Andreas Holtermann
Additional contact information
Nidhi Gupta: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
Bjørn Søvsø Jensen: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
Karen Søgaard: Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, 5230, Odense M, Denmark
Isabella Gomes Carneiro: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
Caroline Stordal Christiansen: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
Christiana Hanisch: Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) Nöldnerstr, 40-42, D-10317, Berlin, Germany
Andreas Holtermann: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

IJERPH, 2014, vol. 11, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the face validity of the self-reported single item work ability with objectively measured heart rate reserve (%HRR) among blue-collar workers. Methods : We utilized data from 127 blue-collar workers (Female = 53; Male = 74) aged 18–65 years from the cross-sectional “New method for Objective Measurements of physical Activity in Daily living (NOMAD)” study. The workers reported their single item work ability and completed an aerobic capacity cycling test and objective measurements of heart rate reserve monitored with Actiheart for 3–4 days with a total of 5,810 h, including 2,640 working hours. Results : A significant moderate correlation between work ability and %HRR was observed among males ( R = ?0.33, P = 0.005), but not among females ( R = 0.11, P = 0.431). In a gender-stratified multi-adjusted logistic regression analysis, males with high %HRR were more likely to report a reduced work ability compared to males with low %HRR [OR = 4.75, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.31 to 17.25]. However, this association was not found among females (OR = 0.26, 95% CI 0.03 to 2.16), and a significant interaction between work ability, %HRR and gender was observed ( P = 0.03). Conclusions : The observed association between work ability and objectively measured %HRR over several days among male blue-collar workers supports the face validity of the single work ability item. It is a useful and valid measure of the relation between physical work demands and resources among male blue-collar workers. The contrasting association among females needs to be further investigated.

Keywords: work ability; face validity; relative aerobic workload; blue-collar workers; actiheart; objective measures (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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