The aim of this study is to investigate the long-term effects of work on health and employment in an ageing workforce, from an interdisciplinary point of view. The lidA study is the first representative cohort study in Germany, which examines relations between employment, age, health and work participation. It is also one of the most extensive long-term studies in the working environment field in Germany.
Previous large cohort studies in other countries found links between the nature of work (e.g. psychosocial aspects of the workload) and various health implications, such as cardiovascular diseases. However, as the the working life and the labour market are constantly and rapidly changing, it is necessary to follow these developments by means of large studies for current labour market requirements and to implement more recent scientific findings.
A “sequential cohort design” was chosen for the study. This makes it possible to analyse whether the differences between the age groups arise due to age-related changes, different generations or whether they are a result of the societal change. Since 2011, participants born in 1959 and 1965 have been repeatedly interviewed at home. In the fourth survey wave 2022/23, participants born in 1971 and further participants born in 1959 and 1965 (refresher) were also interviewed. The sample is representative of the working population subject to social security contributions of the same age groups in Germany. Survey wave 1 (2011) included 6,585 individuals, survey wave 2 (2014) 4,244 individuals, survey wave 3 (2018) 3,586 and survey wave 4 (2022/23) 8,884.
