| The study of older workers has traditionally focused on job performance and age-related decline, with weak and inconsistent results. Previous research suggests that context affects perceptions of self at work. Present research applied social cognition and attribution theories to investigate the process by which older workers recognize the cues, internally and externally, which signal impending declines in health and job-related abilities.; Subjects were 92 males and 105 females age 40--74 employed in white-collar or blue-collar occupations. Subjects completed a pencil-and-paper survey measuring (a) internal cues to risk in work-related abilities and health domains, (b) external cues including perceptions of job security, performance limitations, and age discrimination, and (c) indices of occupational aging self-schema, including occupational self-efficacy, attitude toward one's own aging, and intrinsic work motivation.; Job type, occupational self-efficacy, and attitude toward one's own aging were better predictors of risk cue salience than were workers' age, gender, or motivation. All age groups reported greater importance of risk cues for sensory, strength, and general health losses. Job type was strongly related to overall salience of cues, but not to self-perceived limitations on work performance. Blue-collar workers perceived greater salience of risk cues, but no more limitations on their work performance than white-collar workers. Social self-efficacy was more broadly related to salience of internal cues than were work competence or learning self-efficacy. Implications of social interaction, perceived age-related stigma, and schema activation were discussed. |
