Longitudinal Associations Between Work-Related Factors and the Need for Recovery of Long-Term Care Workers

Due to population aging, the need for long-term care is increasing, while the workforce is decreasing. This leads to high workloads for those remaining in the workforce. An imbalance between job demands and job resources can lead to health problems through a high need for recovery (NFR). The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal associations of work-related factors with NFR. We performed a one-year prospective cohort study of long-term care workers (n = 108). Mixed models were used to analyze the longitudinal associations between quantitative job demands and social support from colleagues with NFR. The longitudinal effect of quantitative job demands on NFR was 13.82 (95% CI 9.59; 18.05). No effect was found for social support on NFR (−0.15 (95% CI −0.38; 0.08)). Quantitative job demands are associated with an increase in NFR over time. As job demands in long-term care are difficult to reduce, we suggest improving job resources to create the needed balance between job demands and job resources to prevent a high NFR and to improve the sustainable employability of long-term care workers. Trial Registration: Netherlands Trial Register, NL9627.