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Belvis F, Muntané F, Muntaner C, Benach J. What is the impact of job precariousness on depression? Risk assessment and attributable fraction in Spain. Public Health 2024; 231:154-157. [PMID: 38692090 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2024.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The prevalence of depression related to precarious employment (PE) has become a significant public health concern, given the declining trend of the standard employment relationship. Research has focused on the mental health detrimental effects of employment conditions, whereas there is scarce evidence concerning the burden of depression that could be prevented by targeting precariousness. This paper estimates the impact of PE on the risk of depression and the attributable fraction within the active and working salaried population in Spain. STUDY DESIGN Observational cross-sectional on data drawn from the Spanish portion of European Health Survey 2020. METHODS After applying selection criteria and descriptives, binary logistic regression models stratified by sex are used to examine the associations between a 9-categories combination of employment precariousness and occupational social class, and depressive symptoms. RESULTS There is a higher risk of depression among individuals in PE and among those who are unemployed, with a notable gradient based on occupational social class for women. Adjusting by sex, age and foreign-born origin, we estimate that approximately 15.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0%-26.2%) of depression cases among the working population and 33.3% (95% CI: 23.2%-43.2) among the active population can be attributed to PE. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the public health impact of PE on mental health, provide evidence to estimate the economic burden linked to employment-related mental health, and underscore the need for policy changes and interventions at the level of labour markets and workplaces to mitigate the detrimental effects of PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Belvis
- Research Group on Health Inequalities, Environment - Employment Conditions Network (GREDS-EMCONET), JHU-UPF Public Policy Center, Departament de Ciències Polítiques i Socials, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08005 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - F Muntané
- Research Group on Health Inequalities, Environment - Employment Conditions Network (GREDS-EMCONET), JHU-UPF Public Policy Center, Departament de Ciències Polítiques i Socials, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08005 Barcelona, Spain; UPF Barcelona School of Management (UPF-BSM), 08008 Barcelona, Spain
| | - C Muntaner
- Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, & Department of Psychiatry, Tenerly School of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada; Center for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Mike's Hospital, Canada
| | - J Benach
- Research Group on Health Inequalities, Environment - Employment Conditions Network (GREDS-EMCONET), JHU-UPF Public Policy Center, Departament de Ciències Polítiques i Socials, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08005 Barcelona, Spain; UPF Barcelona School of Management (UPF-BSM), 08008 Barcelona, Spain; Ecological Humanities Research Group (GHECO), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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Rohrbacher M, Hasselhorn HM, Matilla-Santander N. Associations between precarious employment trajectories and mental health among older workers in Germany: Vertical and horizontal inequalities. Scand J Work Environ Health 2024; 50:290-299. [PMID: 38573826 PMCID: PMC11130709 DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.4160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to investigate the longitudinal association between multi-dimensionally measured precarious employment (PE) trajectories and mental health among older employees in Germany. METHODS Current data from the German lidA study was used, including panel cases, who participated in all four survey waves (2011, 2014, 2018, 2022). The study comprised 1636 subjects, aged 46 and 52 years at baseline. Group-based trajectory modelling was used to model PE trajectories based on a score combining multiple items from the dimensions employment insecurity and income inadequacy. The association between PE trajectories (2011-2022) and mental health (2022) was tested using weighted logistic regression. RESULTS We identified a PE trajectory with upward movement that best described 13.6% of the study sample. Representation in this group was socially unequally distributed with noticeably larger shares of female, lower-educated and lower-skilled workers in PE. Women following this trajectory had increased odds [odds ratio (OR) 1.68-1.82] of reporting poor mental health in 2022 compared to their counterparts in constant non-PE. This was not the case for men (OR 0.37-0.51). CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight horizontal and vertical inequalities with respect to exposure to and consequences of PE. Future labor market reforms should improve protection of women, who will likely be disadvantaged by accumulating employment-related mental health risks over the course of their lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Rohrbacher
- Department of Occupational Health Science, School of Mechanical Engineering and Safety Engineering, University of Wuppertal, Gaussstrasse 20, 42119 Wuppertal, Germany.
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Baek SU, Lee YM, Yoon JH. Association of precarious employment with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among female workers: Findings from a nationwide longitudinal study in Korea. J Affect Disord 2024; 351:931-938. [PMID: 38309477 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In this study, we examined the relationship of precarious employment (PE) with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among Korean women. METHODS We included a nationwide sample of 4162 women drawn from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Women and Families, comprising 7566 observations. PE was assessed using three dimensions: employment insecurity, income inadequacy, and lack of rights and protection. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 10-item version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate the association between each element of PE and the depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation over a two-year follow-up period, represented as odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS The overall prevalence rates of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation were 11.8 % and 1.9 %, respectively. Compared with permanent employment, fixed-term employment (OR [95 % CI]:1.29 [1.00-1.67]) or daily employment (OR [95 % CI]:1.53 [1.26-1.99]) was associated with the depressive symptoms at the follow-up. Additionally, lack of social benefits (OR [95 % CI]:1.40 [1.09-1.79]) and high perceived vulnerability (OR [95 % CI]:1.27 [1.08-1.49]) were associated with the depressive symptoms at the follow-up. Additionally, daily employment was associated with the suicidal ideation at the follow-up (OR [95 % CI]:1.94 [1.02-3.68]) and high perceived vulnerability was marginally associated with an increased suicidal ideation risk (OR [95 % CI]:1.49 [0.98-2.29]). LIMITATION Causal effect of PE could not be asserted due to the observational nature of this study. CONCLUSIONS PE is a social determinant of women's mental health and policy interventions are required to improve their employment conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong-Uk Baek
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Graduate School, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu-Min Lee
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Ha Yoon
- The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Ervin J, Taouk Y, Hewitt B, King T. The gendered associations between precarious employment and mental health in working-age Australians: A longitudinal analysis using 16 waves of the HILDA survey. Soc Sci Med 2023; 339:116382. [PMID: 37977018 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Unemployment and precarious employment (PE) are routinely found to be associated with poorer mental health. Importantly, women are over-represented in PE (due to disproportionate unpaid care demands), yet a gender lens has been lacking in much of the extant literature. This study addresses several gaps by reconsidering how PE can be conceptualised from a gender perspective and examining the impact of differing levels of multidimensional PE on the mental health of working-age Australians. Utilising sixteen annual waves (2005-2020) of the HILDA survey, this longitudinal study employed mixed-effects analysis and Mundlak modelling to examine the association between PE and mental health in working-age (25-64yrs) adults. Mental health was assessed using the MHI-5 scale. A multidimensional PE scale (based on objective and subjective indicators) was developed and three levels of precarity were modelled. 19,442 participants were included in the analyses and all models were stratified by gender. We found women experience greater exposure to PE in Australia, and our results showed a ubiquitously strong and negative association between PE and mental health in both women and men, across all levels of PE, with a dose dependent association observed with increasing PE. Additional adjustment for prior mental health slightly attenuated effect sizes, but the strength and direction of all associations were unchanged. This study provides longitudinal evidence of the detrimental impact of PE on the mental health of working age Australians, highlighting the importance of labour regulations and employment policies to minimize PE for all adults. However, given women's differential exposure to PE, this study also reinforces the urgent need for gender-sensitive social policies to address continued inequity in the division of unpaid household labour to promote a more equitable paid labour market into the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Ervin
- Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Yamna Taouk
- Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Belinda Hewitt
- School of Social and Political Sciences, Faculty of Arts, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tania King
- Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Rose U, Kersten N, Pattloch D, Conway PM, Burr H. Associations between depressive symptoms and 5-year subsequent work nonparticipation due to long-term sickness absence, unemployment and early retirement in a cohort of 2,413 employees in Germany. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2159. [PMID: 37924018 PMCID: PMC10625302 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17090-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We examined the association of depressive symptoms with subsequent events - and duration thereof - of work nonparticipation (long-term sickness absence, unemployment and early retirement). METHODS We employed a 5-year cohort from the Study on Mental Health at Work (S-MGA), based on a random sample of employees subject to social contributions aged 31-60 years in 2012 (N = 2413). Depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline through questionnaires, while work nonparticipation was recorded in follow-up interviews. Associations of depressive symptoms with subsequent events of work nonparticipation were examined in two-part models, with events analysed by logistic regressions and their duration by generalized linear models. RESULTS Medium to severe depressive symptoms were associated with events of work nonparticipation (males Odds Ratio [OR] = 3.22; 95% CI = 1.90-5.45; females OR = 1.92; 95% CI = 1.29-2.87), especially with events of long-term sickness absence in both genders and events of unemployment in males. Mild depressive symptoms were also associated with events of work nonparticipation (males OR = 1.59; 95% CI = 1.19-2.11; females OR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.10-1.84). Among those experiencing one or more events, the duration of total work nonparticipation was twice as high among males [Exp(β) = 2.06; 95% CI = 1.53-2.78] and about one third higher [Exp(β) = 1.38; 95% CI = 1.05-1.83] among females with medium to severe depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS The present study focuses on both events and duration of work nonparticipation, which are both critical for examining societal consequences of depressive symptoms. It is key to regard also mild depressive symptoms as a possible risk factor and to include different types of work nonparticipation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uwe Rose
- Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Nöldnerstr. 40/42, D-10317, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Norbert Kersten
- Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Nöldnerstr. 40/42, D-10317, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dagmar Pattloch
- Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Nöldnerstr. 40/42, D-10317, Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul Maurice Conway
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 2A, København, 1353, Denmark
| | - Hermann Burr
- Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Nöldnerstr. 40/42, D-10317, Berlin, Germany
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Baek SU, Kim MS, Lim MH, Kim T, Won JU, Yoon JH. Multidimensional employment precariousness mediates the association between low educational attainment and poor subjective well-being: results from a nationwide cross-sectional study in South Korea. Scand J Work Environ Health 2023; 49:506-517. [PMID: 37499113 PMCID: PMC10833203 DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.4109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This paper explored how multidimensional employment precariousness (MEP) mediates the relationship between educational attainment and subjective well-being. METHODS A nationwide sample of 46 919 Korean workers participated in surveys between 2017 and 2020. Educational attainment was divided into four categories: elementary school, middle school, high school, and college. Subjective well-being was assessed using the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index, and MEP was evaluated using a modified version of the Employment Precariousness Scale (ERPES-E), with scores ranging from 0 to 100 and higher scores indicating worse employment precariousness. A counterfactual-based logistic mediation analyses were used to estimation. RESULTS The mean MEP score was 36.0 [standard deviation (SD) 12.1] for college education, 44.3 (SD 11.5) for high school, 49.5 (SD 10.1) for middle school, and 51.1 (SD 10.0) for elementary school. The prevalence of poor subjective well-being was 24.0% for college education, 31.3% for high school, 40.6% for middle school, and 44.8% for elementary school. Odds ratios (OR) for the total effect of education on the poor subjective well-being were 1.44 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37-1.53] for high school, 2.19 (95% CI 1.98-2.24) for middle school, and 2.40 (95% CI 2.04-2.82) for elementary school when compared to college education. The OR for the indirect effect mediated through MEP were 1.27 (95% CI 1.25-1.29) for high school, 1.46 (95% CI 1.42-1.51) for middle school, and 1.53 (95% CI 1.48-1.59) for elementary school, accounting for 63.9%, 48.5%, and 48.6% of the total effect, respectively. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that MEP is an important contributor to the disparities in subjective well-being resulting from educational gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Jin-Ha Yoon
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei University Health System, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
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Xu Q, Wang L, Zhang Y, Jiang X. On-call work and depressive mood: A cross-sectional survey among rural migrant workers in China. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1068663. [PMID: 36698555 PMCID: PMC9868730 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1068663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction With the rapid development of China's "gig economy," the on-call work model has grown increasingly prevalent in China and has attracted a large number of rural migrant workers with its low employment threshold. However, this irregular employment mode may negatively impact the mental health of workers. Methods This paper uses an ordinal logistic regression model to study the relationship between Chinese rural migrant workers' on-call work and their depression. Results The results showed that after controlling for relevant variables, the odds ratio of depressive mood among rural migrant workers engaged in on-call work was 1.22 (95% CI 1.04-1.43) compared with rural migrant workers who did not need to be on call. In further heterogeneity research, we found that on-call work is more likely to aggravate the depression risk of rural migrant workers who are highly dependent on the internet and have low-wage incomes. Discussion This research suggests that appropriate measures should be taken to mitigate the negative impact of on-call work on the mental health of rural migrant workers, and more attention needs to be paid to the mental health of lower salaried and gig workers. This paper provides a valuable sample of Chinese rural migrant workers for theoretical research on the relationship between on-call work and mental health and confirms the relationship between the two. These results contribute new ideas to the theory and practice of psychological crisis intervention aimed at Chinese rural migrant workers.
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Burns K, Schroeder E, Fung T, Ellis LA, Amin J. Industry differences in psychological distress and distress-related productivity loss: A cross-sectional study of Australian workers. J Occup Health 2023; 65:e12428. [PMID: 37789556 PMCID: PMC10547932 DOI: 10.1002/1348-9585.12428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This research uses Australian survey data to identify industries with high rates of psychological distress, and to estimate productivity impacts in the form of work loss and cutback days. METHODS Analyzing cross-sectional data from the 2017/2018 National Health Survey, industry prevalence of psychological distress (Kessler Screening Scale) was compared using ordered logistic regression. Productivity outcomes were distress-related work loss days and work cutback days in the previous 4 weeks. Losses were analyzed using zero-inflated negative binomial regression. RESULTS The sample consisted of 9073 employed workers [4497 males (49.6%), 4576 females (50.4%)]. Compared to the reference industry, Health, the odds of very high distress for males were highest in Information media and telecommunications (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.2-4.6) and Administrative and support services (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.2-5.0), while for females the odds were highest in Accommodation and food services (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.5-2.8) followed by Retail (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.2-2.0). Very high distress was associated excess productivity losses. Industry of occupation did not impact on productivity loss over and above distress. CONCLUSIONS Substantial psychological distress was reported which impacted on productivity. High-risk industries included Information media and telecommunications, Accommodation and food services, and Retail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristy Burns
- Department of Health Systems and Populations, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Elizabeth‐Ann Schroeder
- Department of Health Systems and Populations, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care ServicesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Thomas Fung
- Department of Health Systems and Populations, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Louise A. Ellis
- Department of Health Systems and Populations, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Janaki Amin
- Department of Health Systems and Populations, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
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Mental illness rates among employees with fixed-term versus permanent employment contracts: a Danish cohort study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2023; 96:451-462. [PMID: 36416975 PMCID: PMC9968265 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-022-01936-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE It has been hypothesized that employment in a fixed-term instead of permanent contract position is associated with an increased risk of development of mental health problems. The present study aimed at estimating rate ratios between fixed-term and permanent employees in the Danish labor force, for use of psychotropic drugs and psychiatric hospital treatment due to mood, anxiety or stress-related disorders, respectively. METHODS Employment data were drawn from the Danish Labor Force Survey of 2001-2013, which is a part of the European Labor Force Survey. Full-time employed survey participants without mental illness at the baseline interview (N = 106,501) were followed in national health registers for up to 5 years. Poisson regressions were used to estimate rate ratios for redeemed prescriptions of psychotropic drugs and psychiatric hospital treatments due to mood, anxiety or stress-related disease. The analyses were controlled for age, gender, industrial sector, nighttime work, level of education, calendar year, disposable family income and social transfer payments within 1 year prior to the baseline interview. RESULTS The rate ratio for hospital diagnosed mood, anxiety or stress-related disorders among employees with fixed-term vs. permanent employment contracts was estimated at 1.39 (99.5% CI 1.04-1.86), while the corresponding rate ratio for redeemed prescriptions of psychotropic drugs was estimated at 1.12 (99.5% CI 1.01-1.24). CONCLUSION The present study supports the hypothesis that employment in a fixed-term rather than permanent contract position is associated with an increased risk of developing mental health problems. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR2-10.2196/24392.
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