P Butterworth1, L S Leach, S McManus, S A Stansfeld. 1. Psychiatric Epidemiology and Social Issues Unit, Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia. Peter.Butterworth@anu.edu.au
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Employment is associated with health benefits over unemployment, but the psychosocial characteristics of work also influence health. There has, however, been little research contrasting the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among people who are unemployed with those in jobs of differing psychosocial quality. METHOD: Analysis of data from the English Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) considered the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMDs) among 2603 respondents aged between 21 and 54 years who were either (i) employed or (ii) unemployed and looking for work at the time of interview in 2007. Quality of work was assessed by the number of adverse psychosocial job conditions reported (low control, high demands, insecurity and low job esteem). RESULTS: The prevalence of CMDs was similar for those respondents who were unemployed and those in the poorest quality jobs. This pattern remained after controlling for relevant demographic and socio-economic covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Although employment is thought to promote mental health and well-being, work of poor psychosocial quality is not associated with any better mental health than unemployment. Policy efforts to improve community mental health should consider psychosocial job quality in conjunction with efforts to increase employment rates.
BACKGROUND: Employment is associated with health benefits over unemployment, but the psychosocial characteristics of work also influence health. There has, however, been little research contrasting the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among people who are unemployed with those in jobs of differing psychosocial quality. METHOD: Analysis of data from the English Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) considered the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMDs) among 2603 respondents aged between 21 and 54 years who were either (i) employed or (ii) unemployed and looking for work at the time of interview in 2007. Quality of work was assessed by the number of adverse psychosocial job conditions reported (low control, high demands, insecurity and low job esteem). RESULTS: The prevalence of CMDs was similar for those respondents who were unemployed and those in the poorest quality jobs. This pattern remained after controlling for relevant demographic and socio-economic covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Although employment is thought to promote mental health and well-being, work of poor psychosocial quality is not associated with any better mental health than unemployment. Policy efforts to improve community mental health should consider psychosocial job quality in conjunction with efforts to increase employment rates.
Authors: Carolyn S Dewa; Jeffrey S Hoch; Marc Corbière; Patrizia Villotti; Lucy Trojanowski; Hélène Sultan-Taïeb; Sara Zaniboni; Franco Fraccaroli Journal: Community Ment Health J Date: 2018-05-08
Authors: Karen Nieuwenhuijsen; Aart H Schene; Karien Stronks; Marieke B Snijder; Monique H W Frings-Dresen; Judith K Sluiter Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2015-08-20 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Jennifer Welsh; Lyndall Strazdins; Sara Charlesworth; Carol T Kulik; Peter Butterworth Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2016-08-25 Impact factor: 3.295