The impacts of changes in economic activity status and regional socioeconomic characteristics on heath status and mortality

Abstract

Background: Changes in economic activity status from employed to unemployed or becoming economically inactive can increase the risks of stress and disease, affecting the morbidity and mortality associated with disease. The aim of this study was to analyze impacts that changes in economic activity status and regional socioeconomic characteristics from 2003 to 2008 had on health and death. It also examined the effects of occupational change on mortality rate. Methods: The data from the 6th wave (2003) to the 11th wave (2008) of the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study (KLIPS), which surveyed 19,305 people, were analyzed to identify the relationship between regional socioeconomic characteristics, changes in economic activity status and health. The impacts that changes in occupation had on the mortality rate were examined by analyzing subjects who had stayed employed from the 6th wave to the 11th wave of the KLIPS. Economic activity status was first classified into employed and unemployed / economically inactive and used to study the correlation with mortality rate. In the process, demographic and socioeconomic variables such as gender, age, education level, household income, marital status, and self-rated health status were adjusted for. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were employed to determine the correlation between changes in economic activity status and death which were repeatedly measured.Results: Those who became unemployed or economically inactive showed higher mortality rate than those who stayed employed (OR 4.95 [95% CI 3.26-7.52]). In the case of death by disease, those who became unemployed or economically inactive showed higher mortality rate than those who stayed employed (OR 4.95 [95% CI 3.26-7.52]). In the case of death by other causes than disease, those who became unemployed or economically inactive also had higher mortality rate than those who stayed employed (OR 4.94 [95% CI 3.26-7.51]). As for the correlation between the change in occupation and death, engineers, service providers, salespeople, and technicians had higher but statistically insignificant mortality rate than that of high-ranking employees, managers and professionals. Conclusions: A shift to unemployment or an economically inactive status lead to higher mortality rate compared to staying employed. The change from employed status to unemployed/economically inactive status is seen as hardships experienced in personal lives, such as loss of job, decline in social position, restricted activity and decreased quality of life. It can be assumed that these variables increase risk factors, such as stress and disease, increasing the disease prevalence rate and morbidity rate.