Comparison of the physical and mental health problems of unemployed with employees in South Korea

Abstract

This study compared the physical and mental health problems of adults with standard and nonstandard employment with those who were unemployed. We used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to compare adult males and females with standard and nonstandard employment with those who were unemployed. Relative to adults with standard employment, higher proportions of unemployed individuals were women, older, had low monthly incomes, and had mental health problems. Compared to men and women with standard employment, unemployed men and women had greater risk of reporting depressive feelings (OR = 1.683, 95% CI = 1.298–2.183; OR = 1.419, 95% CI = 1.179–1.709) and suicidal ideation (OR = 2.218, 95% CI = 1.682–2.928; OR = 1.250, 95% CI = 1.020–1.530). Among workers with nonstandard employment, there were gender differences in the risk for arthritis. Unemployed individuals also had a higher risk of mental health problems than nonstandard workers. In conclusion, the unemployed were more vulnerable to mental health problems.

Keywords:

• Cardiovascular disease
• employment status
• musculoskeletal diseases
• psychosocial factor
• vulnerable population

Conflicts of interest

All participants provided written informed consent. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the Soonchunhyang University Research Fund.