Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Professor Rachel CooperORCiD
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
© 2016 The Author. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved. Background: Previous studies of the associations between unemployment and health have primarily focused on mental health and long-term associations have not often been explored. This study investigated if discontinuous employment in mid-career was related to self-reported physical and mental functioning at age 60-64 years. Methods: Data come from the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development, a British cohort that has been followed-up since birth in 1946. A total of 2061 study members had data available on mid-career employment patterns and physical and mental functioning assessed using the Short Form 36 questionnaire at age 60-64. Employment patterns in mid-career were categorized into: (i) continuous employment; and discontinuous employment during; (ii) early period (ages 36-43); (iii) late period (ages 43-53); and 4) both periods. Results: Continuous employment was reported by 63.3% of men and 38.7% of women, while 8.7% of men and 23.4% of women reported being in discontinuous employment during both early and late mid-career. When compared with those in continuous employment those in discontinuous employment during both early and late mid-career had poorer physical functioning, men adjusted β (difference in mean physical functioning T score) -3.84, 95% CI - 6.06 to - 1.63, P = 0.001 and women -3.62, 95% CI - 5.17 to - 2.08, P < 0.001. Findings were parallel but weaker for those in discontinuous employment during late mid-career. Discontinuous employment during both periods and particularly during late mid-career was associated with poorer mental functioning in early old age. Conclusions: Discontinuous employment during mid-career was associated with poorer self-reported physical and mental functioning around the age of retirement.
Author(s): von Bonsdorff MB, Kuh D, von Bonsdorff ME, Cooper R
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: European Journal of Public Health
Year: 2016
Volume: 26
Issue: 3
Pages: 486-491
Print publication date: 01/06/2016
Online publication date: 31/03/2016
Acceptance date: 01/01/1900
ISSN (print): 1101-1262
ISSN (electronic): 1464-360X
Publisher: Oxford University Press
URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckw040
DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckw040
PubMed id: 27037331
