Employment Status, Unemployment Duration, and Health-Related Metrics among U.S. Adults of Prime Working Age: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2018–2019 [public access]

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Am J Ind Med
• Personal Author:
  Silver, Sharon R. ; Li, Jia ; Quay, Brian
• Description:
  Background:
  
  While unemployment has been associated with poor health, few recent studies in the United States (U.S.) have comprehensively assessed associations among employment status (including duration unemployed) and healthcare access, health-related behaviors, and specific health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to better understand relations between employment and health in the U.S. by examining prevalences of healthcare access, behaviors, and outcomes by employment status.
  
  Methods:
  
  We assessed health-related metrics by employment status among 2018–2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System respondents ages 25–54. We calculated unadjusted prevalences and adjusted prevalence ratios to compare metrics among employed workers to those of respondents who were self-employed, short-term (<12 months) unemployed, long-term unemployed, and unable to work.
  
  Results:
  
  Prevalences of adverse health outcomes increased with unemployment duration and were highest for those unable to work. Non-Hispanic Blacks were most likely to be unemployed or unable to work. Short-term unemployment and self-employment were associated with poor healthcare access. Health behaviors and outcomes declined with duration unemployed and were worst for those unable to work.
  
  Conclusions:
  
  Employment is a health equity issue. In the U.S., access to affordable healthcare is problematic for both the self-employed and the short-term unemployed. Short-term unemployment is a particularly important locus for intervention and resource provision to prevent health declines that hinder re-employment.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adult Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Benchmarking Employment Humans Middle Aged Socioeconomic Factors Unemployment
• Source:
  Am J Ind Med. 65(1):59-71
• Pubmed ID:
  34748231
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC8678322
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Volume:
  65
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:na
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:73791f1412e1f16a1467e5854e4b6621cd6de45f32e190ef9bac2476fc607f800bcb71bd623288a956c763af2322562dacab98e2d815320a8ba1351f3a9cc629
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/112800/cdc_112800_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 134.78 KB ]