Relationship of Occupational Category With Risk of Physical and Mental Health Problems
10.1016/j.shaw.2019.07.007
- Author:
Jaeouk AHN
1
;
Nam Soo KIM
;
Byung Kook LEE
;
Jungsun PARK
;
Yangho KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Medical IT Engineering, College of Medical Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Republic of Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Cardiovascular disease;
Depression;
Employee;
Osteoarthritis;
Suicide
- MeSH:
Cardiovascular Diseases;
Commerce;
Depression;
Employment;
Female;
Humans;
Hyperlipidemias;
Hypertension;
Korea;
Male;
Mental Health;
Nutrition Surveys;
Occupations;
Osteoarthritis;
Salaries and Fringe Benefits;
Suicidal Ideation;
Suicide
- From:Safety and Health at Work
2019;10(4):504-511
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the physical and mental health problems of waged workers in Korea who had different classes of occupation.METHODS: We used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2017) to examine 22,788 workers who were waged employees and categorized these workers into 5 occupational classes.RESULTS: “Unskilled manual workers” were more likely to be older, less educated, have lower monthly income, and work fewer hours per week. Among men and relative to “managers and professionals” (reference group), “skilled manual workers” were more likely to have physician-diagnosed osteoarthritis, “clerks” were less likely to report suicidal ideation, and “unskilled manual workers” were more likely to report suicidal ideation. Among women and relative to “managers and professionals” (reference group), “service and sales workers” and “unskilled manual workers” were more likely to report physician-diagnosed osteoarthritis, depressive feelings, and suicidal ideation. However, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases did not differ among the occupational classes for men and women.CONCLUSION: We identified differences between men and women and among those in different occupational classes regarding employment status, physical health, and mental health. “Unskilled manual workers” of both genders were more likely to be older, less educated, have less monthly income, work fewer hours per week, and have suicidal ideation. Female “service and sales workers” were more likely to have osteoarthritis, depressive feelings, and suicidal ideation.
