Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2012
Publication Title
ISRN Public Health
Volume
2012
First page number:
1
Last page number:
7
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of employment status and unemployment duration on perceived health, access to health care, and health risk behaviors. Data from Nevada's 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were analyzed. We compared participants who were unemployed (greater than and less than one year) to those who were employed and those who were voluntarily out of the labor force (OLF). Unemployed participants had significantly worse perceived mental health profiles, were more likely to delay health care services due to cost, and were less likely to have access to health care than employed participants and OLF participants. OLF participants were not significantly different from employed participants. Contrary to previous findings, unemployed participants in this study were not more likely to binge drink, smoke, or be physically inactive. Findings from this study suggest that the impetus for unemployment, be it voluntary or involuntary, may significantly impact a person's mental health.
Keywords
Health behavior; Medical care; Mental health; Unemployed – Health and hygiene; Unemployment – Health aspects
Disciplines
Community Health | Medicine and Health Sciences | Mental and Social Health
Language
English
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Repository Citation
Pharr, J. R.,
Moonie, S.,
Bungum, T. J.
(2012).
The Impact of Unemployment on Mental and Physical Health, Access to Health Care and Health Risk Behaviors.
ISRN Public Health, 2012
1-7.
https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/community_health_sciences_fac_articles/83