an article by Pepita Barlow (University of Cambridge, UK), Aaron Reeves ((London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK; University of Oxford, UK), Martin McKee (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK) and David Stuckler (Bocconi University, Milan, Italy) published in Social Policy and Administration Volume 53 Issue 7 (December 2019)
Abstract
Sociologists have long acknowledged that being in a precarious labour market position, whether employed or unemployed, can harm peoples' health. However, scholars have yet to fully investigate the possible contextual, institutional determinants of this relationship.
Two institutions that were overlooked in previous empirical studies are the regulations that set minimum compensation for dismissal, severance payments, and entitlements to a period of notice before dismissal, notice periods. These institutions may be important for workers' health as they influence the degree of insecurity that workers are exposed to.
Here, we test this hypothesis by examining whether longer notice periods and greater severance payments protect the health of labour market participants, both employed and unemployed.
We constructed two cohorts of panel data before and during the European recession using data from 22 countries in the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (person years = 338,000).
We find more generous severance payments significantly reduce the probability that labour market participants, especially the unemployed, will experience declines in self‐reported health, with a slightly weaker relationship for longer notice periods.
Full text (PDF 19pp)
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Wednesday, 4 December 2019
Friday, 1 November 2019
Effects of motivation and workload on firefighters' perceived health, stress, and performance
an article by Émilie Sandrin and Nicolas Gillet (Université de Tours, France), Claude Fernet (Université du Québec à Trois‐Rivières, Québec, Canada) and Monique Leloup and Clément Depin‐Rouault (Service Départemental d'Incendie et de Secours 37, Fondettes, France) published in Stress and Health Volume 35 Issue 4 (October 2019)
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of autonomous and controlled motivations, and workload on perceived stress, health, and performance. Workload was also considered as a moderator of the effects of autonomous motivation on perceived health and performance and of controlled motivation on perceived stress.
We conducted an empirical study using a sample of 654 firefighters.
Consistent with our predictions, results showed positive effects of autonomous motivation and negative effects of workload and controlled motivation on perceived health and performance. They also revealed positive effects of controlled motivation and workload and negative effects of autonomous motivation on perceived stress. Moreover, workload moderated the relations between autonomous motivation and perceived health and performance, so that the positive relations between autonomous motivation and perceived health and performance were lower when workload was high.
Finally, workload moderated the relation between controlled motivation and perceived stress so that the positive relation between controlled motivation and perceived stress was stronger when workload was high. Theoretical contributions and perspectives, as well as implications for practice, are discussed.
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of autonomous and controlled motivations, and workload on perceived stress, health, and performance. Workload was also considered as a moderator of the effects of autonomous motivation on perceived health and performance and of controlled motivation on perceived stress.
We conducted an empirical study using a sample of 654 firefighters.
Consistent with our predictions, results showed positive effects of autonomous motivation and negative effects of workload and controlled motivation on perceived health and performance. They also revealed positive effects of controlled motivation and workload and negative effects of autonomous motivation on perceived stress. Moreover, workload moderated the relations between autonomous motivation and perceived health and performance, so that the positive relations between autonomous motivation and perceived health and performance were lower when workload was high.
Finally, workload moderated the relation between controlled motivation and perceived stress so that the positive relation between controlled motivation and perceived stress was stronger when workload was high. Theoretical contributions and perspectives, as well as implications for practice, are discussed.
Friday, 4 October 2019
Feeling anxious? Perceiving anxiety in tweets using machine learning
an article by Dritjon Gruda and Souleiman Hasan (National University of Ireland Maynooth) published in Computers in Human Behavior Volume 98 (September 2019)
Highlights
Abstract
This study provides a predictive measurement tool to examine perceived anxiety from a longitudinal perspective, using a non-intrusive machine learning approach to scale human rating of anxiety in microblogs.
Results suggest that our chosen machine learning approach depicts perceived user state-anxiety fluctuations over time, as well as mean trait anxiety.
We further find a reverse relationship between perceived anxiety and outcomes such as social engagement and popularity.
Implications on the individual, organizational, and societal levels are discussed.
Highlights
- Predictive measurement tool to examine anxiety in tweets using a machine learning approach.
- Machine learning approach depicts perceived user state-anxiety fluctuations and trait anxiety.
- Perceived anxiety relates negatively to social engagement and popularity.
- Implications include automatically assessing workers' wellbeing to reduce anxiety.
Abstract
This study provides a predictive measurement tool to examine perceived anxiety from a longitudinal perspective, using a non-intrusive machine learning approach to scale human rating of anxiety in microblogs.
Results suggest that our chosen machine learning approach depicts perceived user state-anxiety fluctuations over time, as well as mean trait anxiety.
We further find a reverse relationship between perceived anxiety and outcomes such as social engagement and popularity.
Implications on the individual, organizational, and societal levels are discussed.
Monday, 2 September 2019
Typologies of loneliness, living alone and social isolation, and their associations with physical and mental health
an article by Kimberley J. Smith (University of Surrey, Guildford, UK) and Christina Victor (Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK) published in Ageing & Society Volume 39 Issue 8 (August 2019)
Abstract
The relationship between living alone, loneliness and social isolation, and how they are associated with health remain contentious.
We sought to explore typologies based on shared experiences of loneliness, social isolation and living alone using Latent Class Analysis and determine how these groups may differ in terms of their physical and mental health. We used Wave 7 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (N = 7,032; mean age = 67.3) and responses to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) loneliness scale, household composition, participation in social/societal activities plus frequency of contact with friends, family and relatives for the Latent Class Analysis.
The optimal number of groups was identified using model-fit criteria. The socio-demographic characteristics of groups and health outcomes were explored using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.
We identified a six-cluster typology:
Full text (PDF 22pp)
Abstract
The relationship between living alone, loneliness and social isolation, and how they are associated with health remain contentious.
We sought to explore typologies based on shared experiences of loneliness, social isolation and living alone using Latent Class Analysis and determine how these groups may differ in terms of their physical and mental health. We used Wave 7 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (N = 7,032; mean age = 67.3) and responses to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) loneliness scale, household composition, participation in social/societal activities plus frequency of contact with friends, family and relatives for the Latent Class Analysis.
The optimal number of groups was identified using model-fit criteria. The socio-demographic characteristics of groups and health outcomes were explored using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.
We identified a six-cluster typology:
- Group 1, no loneliness or isolation;
- Group 2, moderate loneliness;
- Group 3, living alone;
- Group 4, moderate isolation;
- Group 5, moderate loneliness, living alone; and
- Group 6, high loneliness, moderate isolation (with high likelihood of living alone).
Full text (PDF 22pp)
Monday, 1 July 2019
Linking decent work with physical and mental health: A psychology of working perspective
an article by Ryan D.Duffy, Haram J.Kim, Nicholas P.Gensmer, Richard P.Douglass and Jessica W.England (University of Florida, USA), Trisha L.Raque-Bogdan (University of Denvert, USA) and AysenurBuyukgoze-Kavasa (Ondokuz Mayıs University, Turkey) published in Journal of Vocational Behavior Volume 112 (June 2019)
Highlights
Drawing from a psychology of working perspective, the current study examined links between decent work and health among a sample (N = 497) of employed adults with an annual household income under $50,000.
A theory driven mediation model was tested positioning decent work as a predictor of mental and physical health via need satisfaction at work. Decent work strongly predicted survival, social contribution, and self-determination need satisfaction.
Regarding mental health, hypotheses were mainly supported as all three need satisfactions mediated the link of decent work to mental health.
Regarding physical health, hypotheses were partially supported as only survival needs partially mediated this relation.
Overall, findings suggest that securing decent work may promote increased mental health primarily because work is meeting individual needs and may promote physical health – in part – by helping meet survival needs. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
Highlights
- Collected data diverse sample of employed adults (N = 497) with an annual household income under $50,000
- Examined links between decent work, need satisfaction, and physical health grounded in Psychology of Working Theory
- Decent work strongly predicted survival, social contribution, and self-determination need satisfaction.
- All three need satisfactions fully mediated the link of decent work to mental health.
- Survival needs satisfaction partially mediated the link between decent work and physical health.
Drawing from a psychology of working perspective, the current study examined links between decent work and health among a sample (N = 497) of employed adults with an annual household income under $50,000.
A theory driven mediation model was tested positioning decent work as a predictor of mental and physical health via need satisfaction at work. Decent work strongly predicted survival, social contribution, and self-determination need satisfaction.
Regarding mental health, hypotheses were mainly supported as all three need satisfactions mediated the link of decent work to mental health.
Regarding physical health, hypotheses were partially supported as only survival needs partially mediated this relation.
Overall, findings suggest that securing decent work may promote increased mental health primarily because work is meeting individual needs and may promote physical health – in part – by helping meet survival needs. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
Wednesday, 26 June 2019
Estimating the Impacts of Area Regeneration Programmes in Scotland on Health and Unemployment: a quasi-experimental approach
Daryll Archibald (La Trobe University, Mebourne, Australia), Zhiqiang Feng (University of Edinburgh, UK) and Elspeth Graham (University of St Andrews, UK) published in People, Palce and Policy Volume 13 Issue 1 (2019)
Abstract
The last three decades have seen significant investment in area-based initiatives in the UK to regenerate areas experiencing multiple disadvantage. However, there is a dearth of robust evidence on the impacts that area regeneration has on residents’ lives. This is particularly so in the case of the Scottish Area Regeneration Partnership (SARP) Programmes initiated in the mid-1990s, the original evaluation of which was beset by a lack of baseline data and poor data collection through the life of the programmes.
This study investigated if residents who lived in SARP areas had improved health and employment outcomes compared to individuals living in similarly disadvantaged areas that had not been subject to regeneration over a ten-year period (1991-2001). A quasi experiment was undertaken using data from the Scottish Longitudinal Study.
Propensity score matching was used to identify comparator areas and a Difference in Differences analysis was conducted to investigate the impacts of the SARP programmes for three outcomes: limiting long-term illness, hospital admissions and unemployment. No positive (or negative) programme impact was found on any of the outcomes assessed. Thus, residents in SARP areas over the study period did not see their health and employment prospects improve compared with residents in similarly disadvantaged non-regeneration comparator areas.
Full text (PDF 28pp)
Abstract
The last three decades have seen significant investment in area-based initiatives in the UK to regenerate areas experiencing multiple disadvantage. However, there is a dearth of robust evidence on the impacts that area regeneration has on residents’ lives. This is particularly so in the case of the Scottish Area Regeneration Partnership (SARP) Programmes initiated in the mid-1990s, the original evaluation of which was beset by a lack of baseline data and poor data collection through the life of the programmes.
This study investigated if residents who lived in SARP areas had improved health and employment outcomes compared to individuals living in similarly disadvantaged areas that had not been subject to regeneration over a ten-year period (1991-2001). A quasi experiment was undertaken using data from the Scottish Longitudinal Study.
Propensity score matching was used to identify comparator areas and a Difference in Differences analysis was conducted to investigate the impacts of the SARP programmes for three outcomes: limiting long-term illness, hospital admissions and unemployment. No positive (or negative) programme impact was found on any of the outcomes assessed. Thus, residents in SARP areas over the study period did not see their health and employment prospects improve compared with residents in similarly disadvantaged non-regeneration comparator areas.
Full text (PDF 28pp)
Thursday, 20 June 2019
Human development in the age of globalisation
a column by Leandro de la Escosura for VOX: CEPR’s Policy Portal
The concept of human development views wellbeing as being affected by a wide range of factors including health and education.
This column examines worldwide long-term wellbeing from 1870-2015 with an augmented historical human development index (AHHDI) that combines new measures of achievements in health, education, material living standards, and political freedom. It shows that world human development has steadily improved over time, although advances have been unevenly distributed across world regions.
Continue reading
And if, like me, you enjoy reading social history you will really like this piece.
The concept of human development views wellbeing as being affected by a wide range of factors including health and education.
This column examines worldwide long-term wellbeing from 1870-2015 with an augmented historical human development index (AHHDI) that combines new measures of achievements in health, education, material living standards, and political freedom. It shows that world human development has steadily improved over time, although advances have been unevenly distributed across world regions.
Continue reading
And if, like me, you enjoy reading social history you will really like this piece.
Tuesday, 23 April 2019
Does your health really benefit from using a self-tracking device? Evidence from a longitudinal randomized control trial
an article by Barbara Stiglbauer and Bernad Batinica (Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria) and Silvana Weber (Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Germany) published in Computers in Human Behavior Volume 94 (May 2019)
Highlights
The use of wearable self-tracking devices to increase health and well-being is on the rise; yet, there is a lack of scientific evidence concerning their actual benefits. This article summarizes theoretical assumptions (e.g., social cognitive theory, cognitive dissonance, conditioning, observer effects) to explore how wearables might positively affect health and well-being outcomes.
A longitudinal randomized control study with a pre-post measurement design was conducted to examine the effects of wearing a fitness tracker for two weeks. Health consciousness, physical health, and indicators of psychological well-being served as dependent variables.
The results suggest that wearing the fitness tracker had a statistically small but significant positive effect on users' perceived physical health and their sense of accomplishment (vs. waitlist control group), while health consciousness increased with a large effect size for all participants in the study.
If users in the experimental group additionally used the accompanying app, the positive effects on indicators of self-reported health and well-being were more pronounced.
Practical implications and open research questions are critically discussed.
Highlights
- We examined health and well-being effects of wearable self-tracking devices.
- We offer an extensive summary of theoretical explanations for the proposed effects.
- We examined the proposed effects empirically within a randomized control study.
- Fitness tracker usage increased perceived physical health and accomplishment.
- Effects were more pronounced if users additionally used the accompanying app.
The use of wearable self-tracking devices to increase health and well-being is on the rise; yet, there is a lack of scientific evidence concerning their actual benefits. This article summarizes theoretical assumptions (e.g., social cognitive theory, cognitive dissonance, conditioning, observer effects) to explore how wearables might positively affect health and well-being outcomes.
A longitudinal randomized control study with a pre-post measurement design was conducted to examine the effects of wearing a fitness tracker for two weeks. Health consciousness, physical health, and indicators of psychological well-being served as dependent variables.
The results suggest that wearing the fitness tracker had a statistically small but significant positive effect on users' perceived physical health and their sense of accomplishment (vs. waitlist control group), while health consciousness increased with a large effect size for all participants in the study.
If users in the experimental group additionally used the accompanying app, the positive effects on indicators of self-reported health and well-being were more pronounced.
Practical implications and open research questions are critically discussed.
Tuesday, 15 January 2019
The cognitive authority of user-generated health information in an online forum for girls and young women
an article by Noora Hirvonen, Alisa Tirroniemi and Terttu Kortelainen (University of Oulu, Finland) published in Journal of Documentation Volume 75 Issue 1 (2019)
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of one particular online discussion forum as a potentially authoritative health information source for its users. The concept of cognitive authority is used as a starting point for understanding information evaluation in this context. The focus is placed on the types of information users seek for from this forum, the ways they assess the credibility of information obtained, and their views on the impact of this information.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical data were collected with a questionnaire survey from the users of a Finnish online forum for girls and young women (n=290). The data were analyzed qualitatively with content analytic techniques and quantitatively by using descriptive analysis.
Findings
The forum was found to offer girls and young women the possibility to receive health information from peers. It was viewed as an appropriate source for experiential rather than factual health information and used to find information on sexuality, bodily functions and diets, for example. Author-related cues, argumentation and tone, veracity and verification were recognized as means to evaluate information credibility. Credibility evaluation was found to be linked with conceptions of the forum and the type of information sought. A share of the respondents recognized the information obtained to have influence on their thinking or behavior.
Originality/value
Based on the findings, it can be argued that the members of the online forum – individually or collectively – can act as cognitive authorities for other users. The findings cannot be generalized beyond this online forum, to Finnish girls or young women, or even the users of the online forum. However, they provide insights into the ways young people evaluate user-generated information in a particular online setting and domain of knowledge and as such contribute to research on cognitive authority, credibility evaluation and information literacy.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of one particular online discussion forum as a potentially authoritative health information source for its users. The concept of cognitive authority is used as a starting point for understanding information evaluation in this context. The focus is placed on the types of information users seek for from this forum, the ways they assess the credibility of information obtained, and their views on the impact of this information.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical data were collected with a questionnaire survey from the users of a Finnish online forum for girls and young women (n=290). The data were analyzed qualitatively with content analytic techniques and quantitatively by using descriptive analysis.
Findings
The forum was found to offer girls and young women the possibility to receive health information from peers. It was viewed as an appropriate source for experiential rather than factual health information and used to find information on sexuality, bodily functions and diets, for example. Author-related cues, argumentation and tone, veracity and verification were recognized as means to evaluate information credibility. Credibility evaluation was found to be linked with conceptions of the forum and the type of information sought. A share of the respondents recognized the information obtained to have influence on their thinking or behavior.
Originality/value
Based on the findings, it can be argued that the members of the online forum – individually or collectively – can act as cognitive authorities for other users. The findings cannot be generalized beyond this online forum, to Finnish girls or young women, or even the users of the online forum. However, they provide insights into the ways young people evaluate user-generated information in a particular online setting and domain of knowledge and as such contribute to research on cognitive authority, credibility evaluation and information literacy.
Monday, 7 January 2019
Does manual labor boost happiness?
a post by Derek Beres for the Big Think blog
The neurochemistry of working with your hands.
Continue reading
There’s some interesting links and a video to watch!
The neurochemistry of working with your hands.
- Working with your hands affects brain chemistry in a positive way.
- Automation technologies can strip away a sense of agency and meaning in our lives.
- Using your hands connects you with your environment in a way that most technologies cannot.
Continue reading
There’s some interesting links and a video to watch!
Monday, 31 December 2018
The science behind why our brains make us cooperate (or disagree)
a post by the Charles Foch Foundation for the Big Think blog
Studies from neuroscience highlight how the brain both helps with and prevents collaboration.
Continue reading
Studies from neuroscience highlight how the brain both helps with and prevents collaboration.
- Neuroscientists identify the parts of the brain that affect our social decision-making.
- Guilt has a large affect on social interactions, find the researchers.
- To find ways to cooperate, people need to let go of fear and anxiety, suggest studies
Continue reading
Monday, 24 December 2018
Always tired? Your immune system may be overactive
a post by Stephen Johnson for the Big Think blog
A new study provides strong evidence that chronic fatigue syndrome is linked to abnormal reactions in the immune system.
Continue reading
A new study provides strong evidence that chronic fatigue syndrome is linked to abnormal reactions in the immune system.
- Chronic fatigue syndrome affects millions of people worldwide, but scientists still aren't quite sure what causes it.
- A new study tracked people suffering from Hepatitis C (HCV) as they underwent a treatment course.
- The results showed that people with overactive immune responses developed chronic fatigue months following the treatment, and that the fatigue persisted even after their immune responses returned to normal.
Continue reading
Thursday, 6 December 2018
Socially disabled: the fight disabled people face against loneliness and stress
an article by Jason Olsen (Ulster University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK) published in Disability & Society Volume 33 Issue 7 (2018)
Abstract
In 2018, the United Kingdom appointed its first Minister for Loneliness.
This article discusses some of the barriers which may contribute to why disabled people were found to be one of the largest groups affected by loneliness. Utilizing ethnographic examples supported by facts, the article demonstrates how even when seeking to fight loneliness, and to reduce the stressors of everyday life, disabled people are often at a disadvantage, or excluded.
The article raises questions concerning self-social exclusion and discusses recommended avenues for further research.
Full text (PDF 6pp)
Abstract
In 2018, the United Kingdom appointed its first Minister for Loneliness.
This article discusses some of the barriers which may contribute to why disabled people were found to be one of the largest groups affected by loneliness. Utilizing ethnographic examples supported by facts, the article demonstrates how even when seeking to fight loneliness, and to reduce the stressors of everyday life, disabled people are often at a disadvantage, or excluded.
The article raises questions concerning self-social exclusion and discusses recommended avenues for further research.
Full text (PDF 6pp)
Saturday, 21 July 2018
Speak better, do better? Education and health of migrants in the UK
Yu Aokia (University of Aberdeen, UK) and Lualhati Santiagob (Office for National Statistics, London, UK) published in Labour Economics Volume 52 (June 2018)
Highlights
Abstract
Does proficiency in host-country language affect immigrant social outcomes?
This paper aims to address this question by estimating the causal effects of English language skills on education, health and fertility outcomes of immigrants in England and Wales.
We construct an instrument for language skills using age at arrival in the United Kingdom, exploiting the phenomenon that young children learn languages more easily than older children. Using a unique individual-level dataset that links the 2011 Census data to life event records, we find that better English language skills significantly improve educational attainment and adult health, and affect fertility behaviour, but do not affect child health.
Supplementary analysis suggests that a higher educational attainment as a result of better English language skills is a possibly important channel though which English proficiency affects immigrant health.
JEL classification: I10, I21, J13, J15
Highlights
- Estimate the causal effects of English proficiency on the social outcomes of UK migrants.
- Use the critical period hypothesis of language acquisition to construct an instrument.
- Better English skills improve educational attainment and adult health, and affect fertility.
- An improvement in adult health likely occurred due to an improvement in educational attainment.
Abstract
Does proficiency in host-country language affect immigrant social outcomes?
This paper aims to address this question by estimating the causal effects of English language skills on education, health and fertility outcomes of immigrants in England and Wales.
We construct an instrument for language skills using age at arrival in the United Kingdom, exploiting the phenomenon that young children learn languages more easily than older children. Using a unique individual-level dataset that links the 2011 Census data to life event records, we find that better English language skills significantly improve educational attainment and adult health, and affect fertility behaviour, but do not affect child health.
Supplementary analysis suggests that a higher educational attainment as a result of better English language skills is a possibly important channel though which English proficiency affects immigrant health.
JEL classification: I10, I21, J13, J15
Tuesday, 3 July 2018
Attracting young people to the mining industry: six recommendations
an article by Jan Johansson, Bo Johansson, Joel Lööw, Magnus Nygren and Lena Abrahamsson (Luleå University of Technology, Sweden) published in International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering Volume 9 Number 2 (2018)
Abstract
The present workforce in the mining industry is ageing, and mining companies have difficulties recruiting young people who are not particularly interested in working in the industry. Simultaneously, mining companies tend to rely on contractors that offer volume flexibility and expertise, often in a combination that is economically appealing.
This makes recruitment and development of the whole of the mining workforce complex.
To recruit the right workforce, mining companies and their contractors need to cooperate and improve their knowledge about both attractive and repelling work features so that they can make wiser strategic decisions based on facts.
On the basis of a Swedish context, we discuss different aspects of attractive workplaces and summarise our 'lessons learned' in six recommendations dealing with general health and safety issues, work organisation, competence development, gender equality, social responsibility and outsourcing.
Abstract
The present workforce in the mining industry is ageing, and mining companies have difficulties recruiting young people who are not particularly interested in working in the industry. Simultaneously, mining companies tend to rely on contractors that offer volume flexibility and expertise, often in a combination that is economically appealing.
This makes recruitment and development of the whole of the mining workforce complex.
To recruit the right workforce, mining companies and their contractors need to cooperate and improve their knowledge about both attractive and repelling work features so that they can make wiser strategic decisions based on facts.
On the basis of a Swedish context, we discuss different aspects of attractive workplaces and summarise our 'lessons learned' in six recommendations dealing with general health and safety issues, work organisation, competence development, gender equality, social responsibility and outsourcing.
Monday, 2 April 2018
Social exclusion factors influencing life satisfaction among older adults
an article by Joonyup Lee and John G Cagle (University of Maryland Baltimore, USA) published in Journal of Poverty and Social Justice Volume 26 Number 1 (February 2018)
Abstract
This study aims to examine the relative impact of social exclusion factors on older adults' life satisfaction. This study conducted a cross-sectional analysis of psychosocial measures from the 2012 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (N=4,139).
Results found that social exclusion factors indeed affect life satisfaction.
Health had the strongest effect on life satisfaction. Good social relationships also positively affect life satisfaction.
These findings call for considering multidimensionality of social exclusion in the future research.
Researchers and practitioners could pay greater attention to social exclusion, ways to measure it, and its impact on life satisfaction through this study.
Abstract
This study aims to examine the relative impact of social exclusion factors on older adults' life satisfaction. This study conducted a cross-sectional analysis of psychosocial measures from the 2012 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (N=4,139).
Results found that social exclusion factors indeed affect life satisfaction.
Health had the strongest effect on life satisfaction. Good social relationships also positively affect life satisfaction.
These findings call for considering multidimensionality of social exclusion in the future research.
Researchers and practitioners could pay greater attention to social exclusion, ways to measure it, and its impact on life satisfaction through this study.
Saturday, 3 February 2018
Smoking bans: Good for us, good for our kids
a column by Brandy Lipton, Kerry Anne McGeary, Dhaval Dave and Timothy Roeper for VOX: CEPR’s Policy Portal
Many regions in the US have enacted 100% smoke-free laws in public places to reduce harmful second-hand smoke exposure, but if these laws simply displace smoking to the home, the children of smokers may suffer. The column uses data on infant and child health since the first ban in 1990 to show that children are healthier in many dimensions when there is a 100% smoke-free law. Partial smoking bans have a much smaller impact.
Continue reading
Many regions in the US have enacted 100% smoke-free laws in public places to reduce harmful second-hand smoke exposure, but if these laws simply displace smoking to the home, the children of smokers may suffer. The column uses data on infant and child health since the first ban in 1990 to show that children are healthier in many dimensions when there is a 100% smoke-free law. Partial smoking bans have a much smaller impact.
Continue reading
Sunday, 10 December 2017
An Occupational Portrait of Emotional Labor Requirements and Their Health Consequences for Workers
an article by Diana Singh and Paul Glavin (McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) published in Work and Occupations Volume 44 Issue 4 (November 2017)
Abstract
Scholarship has revealed inconsistent evidence on the issue of whether emotional labor represents an occupational health risk. Drawing from emotion regulation theory, the conservation of resources model and the interactive service work literature, we examine the association between occupational emotional labor requirements and worker well-being.
Analyses of a national sample of American workers merged with occupational information from the O*NET database reveal no evidence that these requirements are associated with psychological distress or high blood pressure; in contrast, emotional labor requirements are associated with a reduced likelihood of self-rated poor health.
Consistent with the conservation of resources model, however, we find health penalties for individuals with emotional labor requirements in resource-deprived work contexts. Our findings suggest that for individuals with limited job autonomy and little access to civil interpersonal relationships with coworkers, emotional labor requirements may impede successful emotion regulation in ways that contribute to negative occupational outcomes and strain.
Abstract
Scholarship has revealed inconsistent evidence on the issue of whether emotional labor represents an occupational health risk. Drawing from emotion regulation theory, the conservation of resources model and the interactive service work literature, we examine the association between occupational emotional labor requirements and worker well-being.
Analyses of a national sample of American workers merged with occupational information from the O*NET database reveal no evidence that these requirements are associated with psychological distress or high blood pressure; in contrast, emotional labor requirements are associated with a reduced likelihood of self-rated poor health.
Consistent with the conservation of resources model, however, we find health penalties for individuals with emotional labor requirements in resource-deprived work contexts. Our findings suggest that for individuals with limited job autonomy and little access to civil interpersonal relationships with coworkers, emotional labor requirements may impede successful emotion regulation in ways that contribute to negative occupational outcomes and strain.
Monday, 6 February 2017
Long-term consequences of workplace bullying on sickness absence
an article by Tine L. Mundbjerg Eriksen (Aarhus University, Denmark), Annie Hogh (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) and Åse Marie Hansen (University of Copenhagen, Denmark and The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark) published in Labour Economics
Volume 43 (December 2016)
Highlights
Abstract
Bullying in workplaces is a problem thought to harm individual productivity. This paper investigates whether being exposed to bullying in the workplace increases long-term sickness absence. We analyze employees from a selection of workplaces from The Bullying Cohort Study conducted in Denmark in 2006.
The Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised was used to avoid bias related to self-labeling as being bullied. We account for important confounders, such as historical information on sickness absence and mental health, obtained through rich registry data. Our results show that gender does not significantly explain exposure to bullying and that exposure to bullying is associated with negative immediate self-reported health for both genders.
We also find, however, that only bullied females have higher, persistent increases in long-term sickness absence and adverse long-term health. This suggests that men and women have different coping strategies. We investigate plausible explanations for this and find that the differences cannot be explained by, for example, turnover or lack of employment.
Although insignificant, our results nonetheless indicate that men are twice as likely to leave the labor force immediately after exposure to bullying.
JEL classification: J15, J24, J81
Highlights
- Gender does not explain exposure to bullying once we include workplace fixed effects.
- We find that, bullying only increases women's long-term sickness absence.
- The findings are robust to personality and work environment characteristics.
- We analyze explanations such as health, turnover, and labor force participation.
- Results indicate that women's health deteriorates, while men leave the labor force.
Abstract
Bullying in workplaces is a problem thought to harm individual productivity. This paper investigates whether being exposed to bullying in the workplace increases long-term sickness absence. We analyze employees from a selection of workplaces from The Bullying Cohort Study conducted in Denmark in 2006.
The Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised was used to avoid bias related to self-labeling as being bullied. We account for important confounders, such as historical information on sickness absence and mental health, obtained through rich registry data. Our results show that gender does not significantly explain exposure to bullying and that exposure to bullying is associated with negative immediate self-reported health for both genders.
We also find, however, that only bullied females have higher, persistent increases in long-term sickness absence and adverse long-term health. This suggests that men and women have different coping strategies. We investigate plausible explanations for this and find that the differences cannot be explained by, for example, turnover or lack of employment.
Although insignificant, our results nonetheless indicate that men are twice as likely to leave the labor force immediately after exposure to bullying.
JEL classification: J15, J24, J81
Friday, 5 June 2015
Policy, politics, health and housing in the UK
an article by Danny Dorling published in Policy & Politics Volume 43 Number 2 (April 2015)
Abstract
We need to focus policy and political attention on the very recent changes to the patterns of ownership and wealth in housing in Britain which have occurred since the 2008 financial collapse.
A small group of private landlords, less than 2% of the population, have taken advantage of the new circumstances to rapidly enrich themselves and return Britain to a time when a very large number of families with children relied on private renting to provide them with a home, now 1 in 4 of all English families with children.
The possible implications for health, politics and policy are profound.
Hazel’s comment:
Worth reading the whole article if you can get hold of a copy.
Abstract
We need to focus policy and political attention on the very recent changes to the patterns of ownership and wealth in housing in Britain which have occurred since the 2008 financial collapse.
A small group of private landlords, less than 2% of the population, have taken advantage of the new circumstances to rapidly enrich themselves and return Britain to a time when a very large number of families with children relied on private renting to provide them with a home, now 1 in 4 of all English families with children.
The possible implications for health, politics and policy are profound.
Hazel’s comment:
Worth reading the whole article if you can get hold of a copy.
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