Title: How to enhance competence, cognitive functions and well-being in employees aged 50+

Abstract

Employees aged 50+ are often considered not to be able to keep up with changing demands at work. However, findings from developmental psychology point to large potentials in a life-span perspective. A comprehensive training programme was designed to enhance individual competence, cognitive functions and stress management for older employees which can easily be integrated into every day work. An evaluation study with N=633 participants (M=55.03 years, 433 female) focused on whether such training (n=247) had effects in comparison to non treatment controls (n=199). Trainings were administered in 24 groups in 15 weekly sessions of 150 minutes each during work hours. Further validation studies investigated the effects of trained instructors (6 groups, n=54) and single component trainings (12 groups, 120 minutes for 7 weeks) containing either the competence (n=49), the cognitive (n=43) or the stress management exercises (n=41), each including activation as in the comprehensive trainings. Tests and questionnaires were administered before (t1) and after trainings (t2) and at follow-up six months later (t3). Results show positive training effects of the comprehensive trainings at t2 in comparison to controls with respect to subjective health, self-concept of professional competence, self-efficacy, coping with stress and cognitive abilities, i.e. concentration and mental speed. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d) of significant results (p<.05) were small to medium (d=.223 to d=.764). At t3, most improvements had been maintained or had even increased, pointing to the fact that trained strategies had been adopted into everyday work. Trainings administered by trained instructors showed equivalent effects. Single-component trainings led to specific effects according to their content, and each led to improved cognitive abilities. However, subjective health and self-efficacy were only promoted by the comprehensive trainings, indicating broader effects. Thus, especially the comprehensive training programme can be recommended as preventive measure to ensure quality of life and improved performance of employees aged 50+.