Aging engineers’ occupational self-efficacy—a mixed methods study
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2023Metadata
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Wallin, S., Fjellman-Wiklund, A., & Fagerström, L. (2023). Aging engineers’ occupational self-efficacy—a mixed methods study. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Artikkel 1152310. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1152310Abstract
Introduction: Engineers’ work has become more complex with increased demands in today’s changing working life. Self-efficacy is essential to successfully adapt to work-related changes and to cope with adverse job demands. However, less is known about aging engineers’ occupational self-efficacy. Therefore, this study explores facilitators and barriers to aging engineers’ occupational self-efficacy beliefs to continue working until expected retirement age. An additional purpose is to explore if any of the aspects described by the engineers are more prominent.
Methods: The study design was exploratory, using mixed methods with a qualitative to quantitative approach. A total of 125 engineers, aged between 45 and 65 years, answered two open-ended survey questions about what positively and negatively affect their occupational self-efficacy beliefs to continue working. First, data was analyzed using an inductive manifest qualitative content analysis. Next, descriptive statistics were performed based on the results of the qualitative study.
Results: The analyses revealed that health and working conditions that affect health were crucial facilitators and barriers for the aging engineers’ occupational self-efficacy to continue working until expected retirement age. Furthermore, the engineers emphasized competence, motivation from meaningful tasks, family and leisure, and private economy.
Discussion: The aging engineers’ own health seems to be prominent in their self-efficacy regarding a full working life; consequently, support still needs to address issues affecting health.