What SES may explain about work-related health limitations: A temporal-ordered model

Department

Social Work and Human Services

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2023

Abstract

While health’s relationship to SES is well established by research, relevant studies in the literature display little uniformity in their conceptualization of SES. The present study sought a temporal-ordered model reflecting longitudinal data and explaining work-related health limitations (health conditions that limit the amount or type of work an individual can perform) in the period 2008–2015. The data came from the 1997 cohort of the National Longitudinal Study of Youth, a panel study originating in the United States. From it we developed a longitudinal record for each of 5,487 respondents, yielding 23,951 person-waves in the final sample. Specifically, we examined how SES impacts work-related health limitations among working young adults as they transition to midlife. Our analyses employed generalized estimating equations (GEE). Our results linked higher likelihood of work-related health limitations to self-employment, to being a laborer (versus a professional/manager), and to working in entertainment/accommodation/food services, educational/health/social services, professional and related services, and other industry (versus construction/agriculture/manufacturing). Overall, our longitudinal study indicated that SES measured relatively early in the lifecourse helps explain work-related health limitations among working young adults, net of lifestyle, and health-care-use variables.

Journal Title

Social Science Journal

Journal ISSN

03623319

Volume

60

Issue

1

First Page

21

Last Page

37

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1080/03623319.2020.1727244

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