Psychological Profiles of Aged Blue-Collar and White-Collar Workers

The aging workforce faces increasing psychological and organizational challenges as technological and structural transformations reshape modern workplaces. This work investigated the psychological profiles and work ability of older employees (> 50 years) across occupational categories. A total of 468 workers—179 blue-collar (manual/industrial) and 289 white-collar (administrative/managerial)—completed validated questionnaires assessing psychopathological symptoms (SCL-90), mood and affective states (POMS, BDI-II, BAI), perceived stress (PSS), psychological well-being (PGWBI), coping strategies (Brief-COPE), and work ability (WAI). Significant differences emerged between occupational groups: blue-collar workers reported higher stress, anxiety, somatization, and depressive symptoms, whereas white-collar workers demonstrated more adaptive problem- and emotion-focused coping strategies and higher perceived work ability. Factor analysis identified three latent constructs— Psychiatric Symptoms , Psychological Distress , and Coping Strategies . Blue-collar workers scored higher on Psychiatric Symptoms , while white-collar workers scored higher on Coping Strategies , reflecting better resilience and emotional regulation. The negative association between psychological distress (e.g., anxiety, mood disturbances, somatization) and work ability was stronger among blue-collar workers, suggesting greater vulnerability to stress-related functional decline. These findings highlight the influence of occupational context on mental health, resilience, and perceived performance among aging employees and highlight the need for targeted interventions to sustain productivity and mental health in aging workers. Tailored workplace strategies that enhance coping resources, emotional regulation, and stress management may mitigate distress, improve work ability, and support healthier, more sustainable aging at work.