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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Catherine A. Ipsen, MA, Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities, University of Montana, 52 Corbin Hall, Missoula, MT 59812, 406-243-4562, ipsen@ruralinstitute.umt.edu

Health promotion has been shown to reduce secondary health conditions and improve health behaviors for individuals with disabilities. Access to health promotion activities, however, is a problem for many people with disabilities who do not work and who rely on Medicare or Medicaid to cover healthcare costs. Without access to health promotion programs, people with disabilities may find it difficult to get a job or stay employed. This study used data (n = 3076) from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFFS) to explore the relationship between employment and health behaviors for individuals with physical disabilities. A logistic regression model was developed, which defined probability of employment as a function of participant demographics (age, education, gender, race, marital status, children), severity of disability, secondary health conditions (as measured in days of limitation), and health behaviors (as measured by weight and exercise). The model successfully classified employment outcomes for 77.5% of respondents. Findings suggests that secondary conditions and health behaviors play a significant role in predicting employment, after controlling for participant demographics and severity of disability. For instance, a one day increase in reported days of limitation decreased the probability of employment by 1.3 percentage points; and respondents who reported exercising in the last month, had a 8.4 percentage point higher probability of employment relative to respondents who did not exercise. These types of results support expanded access of health promotion programming to people with disabilities through programs such as vocational rehabilitation and social insurance.

Learning Objectives:

A participant in this session will be able to (
• discuss the role that health behaviors and secondary conditions play in predicting employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities and (
• understand the application of health promotion programming as a viable strategy to enhance employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

Keywords: , Abortion

Related Web page: rtc.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/RuEcD/LinkingHealth.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation