| Popis: |
Comparison of workers from different nations with regard to age may improve our ability to identify in advance potential ergonomic/human factor workplace advances or problems in the next millennium. Research demonstrates another approach related to these issues. This approach asks people how old they feel (personal age) and compares this to their reported chronological age. The data suggest that the discrepancy between chronological age and personal age is a measure of the amount of unrelieved worker stress. One might relieve worker stress by changing work, the workplace, or the environment. Taking this approach, six investigators from five nations developed a survey to assess personal age, demographic data, and perceptions of work stressors. Data were then collected from samples of health care workers in each of five diverse countries: Brazil, Croatia, Poland, Ukraine, and the USA (total sample of approximately 800 workers). The papers in this session are the first presentation and comparison of data from all five countries. The results show differences between nations, confirm that aging variable differences are a significant factor, and suggest that the discrepancy between personal and chronological age merits further consideration. Two Discussants who differ in perspective critique the methods used in this study, as well as consider the importance of age as a variable in designing work and workplaces for the next millennium. |
