Layoffs and the mental health and safety of remaining workers: a difference-in-differences analysis of the US aluminium industry

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Epidemiol Community Health
• Personal Author:
  Elser, Holly ; Ben-Michael, Eli ; Rehkopf, David ; Modrek, Sepideh ; Eisen, Ellen A ; Cullen, Mark R
• Description:
  Background
  
  Relatively few studies have examined the effects of layoffs on remaining workers, although the effects of layoffs and downsizing events may extend beyond those employees who lose their jobs.
  
  Methods
  
  We examined the effects of layoffs on mental healthcare utilisation and injury risk among workers at 30 US plants between 2003 and 2013. We defined layoffs as reductions in the hourly workforce of 20% or more at each plant. Using a difference-in-differences approach, we compared the change in outcomes during layoffs versus the same 3-month period 1 year previously, accounting for secular trends with control plants.
  
  Results
  
  Our study population included 15 502 workers and 7 layoff events between 2003 and 2013. Layoffs were associated with only minor decreases in injuries (−0.006, 95% CI −0.013 to 0.001). The probability of outpatient visits related to mental health increased by 1% during layoffs (0.010, 95% CI 0.003 to 0.017), and the probability of mental health-related prescriptions increased by 1.4% (0.014, 95% CI −0.0006 to 0.027). Among women, the increase in outpatient visits was more pronounced (0.017, 95% CI 0.003 to 0.031). Increased prescription utilisation appeared attributable primarily to opioid use (0.016, 95% CI 0.005 to 0.027).
  
  Conclusion
  
  Our results indicate an association between layoffs and remaining workers’ mental health and safety, although changes mental healthcare utilisation may reflect both changes in underlying mental health and changes in care-seeking. Future research on concordance of service utilisation and underlying health may yield valuable insight into the experiences employed workers in the wake of layoffs.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adult Aluminum Anxiety Article Depression Employment Female Humans Industry Male Mental Health Mental Health Services Middle Aged Personnel Downsizing Stress, Psychological Unemployment Workforce Workplace

  More +
• Source:
  J Epidemiol Community Health. 73(12):1094-1100
• Pubmed ID:
  31533963
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC10443429
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  F31 MH112246/MH/NIMH NIH HHSUnited States/ ; R01 AG026291/AG/NIA NIH HHSUnited States/ ; R01 OH009939/OH/NIOSH CDC HHSUnited States/ ; R01OH009939/ACL/ACL HHSUnited States/
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Volume:
  73
• Issue:
  12
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:094c6a986f53eac79b54ea2de1a8cb866d535feef094df2c2bf750d2fe813b7a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/132221/cdc_132221_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 376.31 KB ]