Thriving from Work Questionnaire: Validation of a Measure of Worker Wellbeing Among Older U.S. Workers

Details

• Journal Article:
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Personal Author:
  Voss, Maren W. ; Halvorsen, Cal J. ; Yadav, Kanchan ; Neidlinger, Stephanie M. ; Wagner, Gregory R. ; Peters, Susan E.
• Description:
  As life expectancy and retirement ages rise globally, understanding how older workers thrive in the workplace is an increasingly vital measurement and wellbeing priority. In this study, we validated the Thriving from Work Questionnaire (TfWQ) for workers aged ≥50. A U.S. online panel yielded 617 older workers and 372 younger counterparts for comparison. Using item response theory alongside model-fit evaluation and correlational tests with job/life satisfaction, engagement, burnout, and turnover intent-we assessed reliability and construct validity of the long- (30 reduced to 29-item) and short- (8-item) form TfWQ versions. We recommend omitting one of the original items from the long-form for use in older workers. Instrument reliability was high (a = 0.94 long-form; 0.90 short-form). Model fit was established for both long- and short-form versions with acceptable model fit indices. Convergent validity was supported by strong, theory-consistent correlations with the external constructs. Older workers, compared with those 20-49 years, had higher scores of thriving from work as well as differences identified on nine items. These age-patterned differences highlight actionable levers for occupational-health age-sensitive policy, wellbeing interventions, and workforce planning. The TfWQ offers a robust, reliable, valid, and practically oriented tool for evaluating older workers' wellbeing with utility across research, practice, and policy.
• Subjects:
  Age Factors Occupational Health Safety Stress, Psychological Surveys And Questionnaires
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Work-related Wellbeing; Psychological Safety; Item Response Theory; Psychometrics; Work-life Balance; Occupational Stress; Job Satisfaction; Working Conditions; Psychological Well-being; Occupational Health Wellbeing; Questionnaires; Job Stress; Work-life Balance; Employee Satisfaction; Quality Of Work Life; QWL; Age Groups; Workforce Development; Occupational Psychology; Total Worker Health; TWH;
• Source:
  Int J Environ Res Public Health 2025 Sep; 22(9):1428
• ISSN:
  1660-4601
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant; Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; Missouri ; Boston Region [OSHA] ; Kansas City Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  30 pdf pages
• Volume:
  22
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071313
• Contact Point Address:
  Susan E. Peters, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
• Email:
  sepeters@hsph.harvard.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0882f35f5fa7eb0e4a489a70426cbfd2033fe65af28c0fcf0c4c6760218fb84373b8897c4ceb439a4ac46e9d90824fea76a2dbe6263e06c79ee81a703103ed28
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/258789/cdc_258789_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 437.31 KB ]