Monitor on Psychology - September 2011 - (Page 42)

An uncertain future for America’s work force America’s workers are stressed by the continued economic turmoil and employers are worried about an increasingly unhealthy population, but psychologists are poised to help, report presenters at the 2011 Work, Stress and Health Conference. B Y S AD IE F. D IN G FELDER Monitor staff hink the recession was rough on the nation’s work force? It pales in comparison to the challenges workers and employers will face in the coming years, warned John Howard, MD, director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, at the opening session of the 2011 Work, Stress and Health Conference, May 19–22, in Orlando. A case in point: In most developed and developing nations, the work force is aging dramatically, with “chronologically gifted” workers constituting the only group that will grow over the next 20 years, he said. At the same time, the obesity epidemic is weakening the health and shortening the life spans of younger workers. “Employers are banking on a new crop of young, healthy workers coming in and replacing the older ones, and that just isn’t going to happen,” Howard said. And unhealthy workers are bad for business and even the whole economy’s health, added Cornell University economist Sean Nicholson, PhD. “We have been vastly underestimating the true cost of a sick worker,” he said. However, the news isn’t all bad: Over the course of the four-day conference, researchers identified ways to Monitor on psychology • septeMber 2011 T 42

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - September 2011

Monitor on Psychology - September 2011
Letters
President’s Column
Contents
From the CEO
Supreme Court hears psychologists on prison and video game cases
Antipsychotics are overprescribed in nursing homes
New MCAT likely to recognize the mind-body connection
A $2 million boost for military and families
In Brief
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS UPDATE
On Your Behalf
Judicial Notebook
Random Sample
TIME CAPSULE
QUESTIONNAIRE
Speaking of Education
SCIENCE WATCH
An uncertain future for American workers
Advocating for psychotherapy
PRACTICE PROFILE
ETHICALLY SPEAKING
Seared in our memories
Helping kids cope in an uncertain world
APA and Nickelodeon team up
Muslims in America, post 9/11
Bin Laden’s death
‘They expect us to be there’
Answering the call of public policy
Candidates answer final questions
APA News
Division Spotlight
New leaders
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION
Disaster relief training
Honoring teaching excellence
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - September 2011