Health Risk and Occupational Category

Abstract

This study seeks to determine the influence of occupational category on health risk by utilizing a corporate-wide health risk appraisal (HRA). A subgroup of the corporate population, 10,124 college-degree employees, completed a health risk appraisal and comparisons were made between the male subjects' (6,553) and female subjects' (3,571), occupational categories, and estimated health risk. For the males, significant differences were found between the six occupational categories; clerical, professional and craft categories exhibited greater health risk. The females displayed no significant differences between occupational categories. The authors suggest that occupational variables are likely to have an influence on health risk when mean age for the occupational category is adjusted and educational level of subjects is controlled. Findings are discussed regarding significance to employee assistance providers and other corporate personnel involved in employee health services.