Relationships between employment status with self-perceived mental and physical health in Canada

Anson Kwok Choi Li; Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia; Anson Kwok Choi Li; Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2024012

AIMS Public Health

2024, Volume 11, Issue 1: 236-257. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2024012

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Brief report Special Issues

Relationships between employment status with self-perceived mental and physical health in Canada

Anson Kwok Choi Li ^1,2,3,
Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia ^{3,4,5
,
,}

1.
Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Suite 425, Toronto, ON, Canada M5T 3M6
2.
Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, Canada N6A 3K7
3.
ReSTORE Lab, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 1V7
4.
Krembil Research Institute-University Health Network, 60 Leonard Ave, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5T 0S8
5.
Centre for Research in Occupational Safety & Health, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Rd, Sudbury, ON, Canada P3E 2C

Received: 22 January 2024 Revised: 22 February 2024 Accepted: 27 February 2024 Published: 29 February 2024

Background
The annual cost of mental illnesses in Canada is estimated to be ＄50 billion. Research from other countries have suggested that employment status is associated with mental and physical health. Within the Canadian context, there is a dearth of research on the relationship between employment and mental health.
Objective
To explore the relationships between age, gender, income, and employment status on mental and physical health.
Methods
The 2021 Canadian Digital Health Survey dataset was used for this study. Data records, which included responses for the questions on age, gender, income, employment status, mental, and physical health, were used in the analysis. Ordinal logistics regression was applied to investigate the associations that may exist between mental and physical health with the various sociodemographic factors. Descriptive statistics were also provided for the data.
Results
The total sample size included in the analysis was 10,630. When compared to respondents who had full-time employment, those who were unemployed were more likely to have lower self-perceived mental health (OR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.55–2.34). Retired respondents were less likely to have worse mental health than respondents who were employed full-time (OR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.68–0.90). Self-perceived physical health was more likely to be lower for those who were unemployed (OR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.41–2.14) or retired (OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.12–1.48) when compared to respondents employed full-time. The likelihood of worsening mental and physical health was also found to be associated with age, gender, and income.
Conclusion
Our findings support the evidence that different factors contribute to worsening mental and physical health. Full-time employment may confer some protective effects or attributes leading to an increased likelihood of having improved mental health compared to those who are unemployed. Understanding the complex relationships on how various factors impact mental health will help better inform policymakers, clinicians, and other stakeholders on how to allocate its limited resources.
- mental health,
- physical health,
- employment status
Citation: Anson Kwok Choi Li, Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia. Relationships between employment status with self-perceived mental and physical health in Canada[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2024, 11(1): 236-257. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2024012

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Abstract

Background

The annual cost of mental illnesses in Canada is estimated to be ＄50 billion. Research from other countries have suggested that employment status is associated with mental and physical health. Within the Canadian context, there is a dearth of research on the relationship between employment and mental health.

Objective

To explore the relationships between age, gender, income, and employment status on mental and physical health.

Methods

The 2021 Canadian Digital Health Survey dataset was used for this study. Data records, which included responses for the questions on age, gender, income, employment status, mental, and physical health, were used in the analysis. Ordinal logistics regression was applied to investigate the associations that may exist between mental and physical health with the various sociodemographic factors. Descriptive statistics were also provided for the data.

Results

The total sample size included in the analysis was 10,630. When compared to respondents who had full-time employment, those who were unemployed were more likely to have lower self-perceived mental health (OR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.55–2.34). Retired respondents were less likely to have worse mental health than respondents who were employed full-time (OR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.68–0.90). Self-perceived physical health was more likely to be lower for those who were unemployed (OR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.41–2.14) or retired (OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.12–1.48) when compared to respondents employed full-time. The likelihood of worsening mental and physical health was also found to be associated with age, gender, and income.

Conclusion

Our findings support the evidence that different factors contribute to worsening mental and physical health. Full-time employment may confer some protective effects or attributes leading to an increased likelihood of having improved mental health compared to those who are unemployed. Understanding the complex relationships on how various factors impact mental health will help better inform policymakers, clinicians, and other stakeholders on how to allocate its limited resources.

Acknowledgments

This study is not funded by any agency, and is conducted by the authors independently.

Conflict of Interest

Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia is an editorial board member for AIMS Public Health and was not involved in the editorial review or the decision to publish this article All authors declare that there are no competing interests.

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