Work stress and perceived memory: longitudinal insights from the job demand-control and effort-reward imbalance models

Two psychosocial work models, job demand-control (JDC) and effort-reward imbalance (ERI), have been studied in relation to health and cognition, but to a limited extent with subjective memory. This study aimed to evaluate longitudinal associations of JDC and ERI with changes in subjective memory among United States (U.S.) workers from the population-based Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. Among 1,538 U.S. workers, generalised estimating equations analyzed associations of independent and joint JDC and ERI categorizations at baseline (2004-2006) with changes in subjective memory composite scores from baseline to follow-up (2013-2014). Multivariable modelling accounted for demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, health, and psychosocial work factors. In the fully adjusted models, high job control (regression coefficient: 0.151 [95% CI 0.038, 0.264], p = 0.0088), “high demand and high control” (0.164 [0.015, 0.312], p = 0.0313), high reward (0.289 [0.174, 0.405], p < .0001), “low effort and high reward” (0.288 [0.130, 0.446], p = 0.0004), and “high effort and high reward” (0.288 [0.128, 0.448], p = 0.0004) were associated with increased subjective memory. Work-related control and reward were positively associated with subjective memory changes across nine years among a U.S. worker cohort. Future research may support workplace environment improvements to promote cognitive health.