Work ability index of young employees and their sickness absence during the following year.

Objectives: The work ability index is widely used in occupational health care. The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which a low index among young employees is predictive of sickness absence during the following year.

Methods: Altogether 3725 employees aged 31 years were followed from 1997 to 1999 as part of the northern Finland birth cohort 1966 study.

Classification of Work Ability Index among young employees.

Background: The reference values of the Work Ability Index (WAI) are best known for people aged over 45 years. However, the WAI score is highly dependent on age and population-based reference values for young employees are needed.

Aim: To present WAI scores calculated for a population-based sample of employees in their early 30s.

A review of longitudinal studies on youth predictors of adulthood physical activity.

The aim of this article was to review the literature on the youth predictors of physical activity in adulthood. The outcome measure in the reviewed studies was the level and types of physical activity at adult age. The youth predictors here included different measures of physical activity, health and fitness as well as some social and behavioral variables measured in childhood or in adolescence.

Viscoelastic properties of cationic starch adsorbed on quartz studied by QCM-D.

The adsorption and viscoelastic properties of layers of a cationic polyelectrolyte (cationic starch, CS, with 2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammoniumchloride as the substituent) adsorbed from aqueous solutions (pH 7.5, added NaCl 0, 1, 100, and 500 mM) on silica were studied with a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D). Three different starches were investigated (weight-average molecular weights M(w) approximately 8.

Cardiorespiratory fitness of males and females of northern Finland birth cohort of 1966 at age 31.

This study aimed to measure cardiorespiratory fitness of about 9000 males and females at age 31, to produce the reference values and relate them to the level of physical activity and body mass index (BMI). Study population was the Northern Finland birth cohort of 1966. At age 31, 8786 persons responded to a postal inquiry including questions about physical activity and 5497 of them also performed a step test.

Change in the level of physical activity from adolescence into adulthood and obesity at the age of 31 years.

Objective: To evaluate how a change in the level of leisure-time physical activity from adolescence into adulthood is associated with overall and abdominal obesity at the age of 31 y.

Design: Prospective follow-up study of Northern Finland birth cohort of 1966.

Subjects: In all, a population of 2834 males and 2872 females aged 31 y was studied.

Physical activity and social status in adolescence as predictors of physical inactivity in adulthood.

Background: Physical inactivity is related to an increased risk of certain chronic diseases. The aim here was to evaluate how physical activity and social status in adolescence are associated with physical inactivity in adulthood.

Methods: The sample comprised 3664 males and 4130 females who answered questions on physical activity and social status at 14 and 31 years of age in follow-up surveys of the Northern Finland birth cohort of 1966.

Adolescent participation in sports and adult physical activity.

Background: Physical activity in adolescence has been reported to enhance physical activity in adulthood, but detailed information on the enhancing effect of different types of adolescent sports is lacking. We evaluated the association between participation in different types of adolescent sports and physical activity in adulthood.

Methods: The sample comprised 7794 males and females who responded to the mailed questions on physical activity status at age 14 years and at age 31 years in follow-up surveys of the Northern Finland 1966 birth cohort.

Occupational physical activity is related to physical fitness in young workers.

Purpose: We evaluated the association between occupational physical activity and fitness in young workers, taking into account leisure-time physical activity, body size, and smoking.

Methods: The study population comprised 2188 men and 1987 women, members of the Northern Finland birth cohort 1966, who participated in the 1997-1998 follow-up survey and were employed at the time of the survey. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured by a 4-min step test and muscular fitness by tests of maximal isometric handgrip and isometric trunk extension.

Work ability of young adults.

This paper reviews the themes related to work ability of young adults. Premature working discapacity causes significant economical and social costs in Finland compared to other Nordic countries and has for that reason been studied most intensively there. Work ability is an interaction of social, environmental and individual factors such as physical fitness, coping skills, social support behaviour and health behaviour.