Health inequalities among young workers: the mediating role of working conditions and company characteristics.
Int Arch Occup Environ Health
; 96(10): 1313-1324, 2023 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37814035
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Few studies have investigated health inequalities among young workers. The objectives of this study are to assess the extent of health inequalities in a sample of job starters and to explore the contribution of job demands and organisational factors.METHODS:
We analyze data from the BIBB/BAuA Youth Employment Survey 2012. The cross-sectional survey includes a representative sample of 3214 German employees, apprentices, and trainees aged 15-24 years. Individuals were grouped by their years of schooling into low (< 12 years) and high levels of education (≥ 12 years). Regression analysis estimated the link between education and four healthoutcomes:
self-rated health, number of health events, musculoskeletal symptoms, and mental health problems over the last 12 months. Counterfactual mediation analysis tested for indirect effects of education via working conditions (i.e., physical and psychosocial job demands) and company characteristics (i.e., company size, health prevention measures, financial situation, downsizing). All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, nationality, region, working hours, job tenure, employment relationship, and economic sector.RESULTS:
Highly educated workers reported better self-rated health (b = 0.24, 95% CI 0.18-0.31) and lower numbers of health events (Rate Ratio (RR) = 0.74, 95% CI 0.67-0.82), musculoskeletal symptoms (RR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.66-0.80) and mental health problems (RR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.76-0.93). Total job demands explained between 21.6% and 87.2% of the educational differences (depending on health outcome). Unfavourable company characteristics were associated with worse health, but showed no or only small mediation effects.CONCLUSIONS:
Health inequalities are already present at the early working career due to socio-economically stratified working hazards. To enhance prevention measures that aim at reducing inequalities in workplace health, we propose shifting attention towards earlier stages of life.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Condições de Trabalho
/
Ocupações
Tipo de estudo:
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article