Comparison of health characteristics between working and non-working adults with physical disabilities: Implications for health promotion

Objective: Investigate differences in health characteristics among working and non-working adults with physical disabilities.

Methods: We combined data from the 2000-2007 National Health Interview Survey to investigate health-related differences between working and non-working adults age 18-64 years with a lower-extremity mobility limitation, hearing impairment or visual impairment. We examined measures of physical health, depressive symptoms, 6 chronic conditions and 4 health behaviors for each disability group, controlling for demographics in the logistic models.

Results: With the exceptions of mild depressive symptoms and alcohol use, non-working adults in all disability groups were significantly more likely (p<.01) to have poorer health, all chronic conditions, and to engage in adverse health behaviors. Compared with working adults, non-working visually impaired adults were most likely to report fair/poor health (50.1% v. 13.8%), to have diabetes (19.7% v. 7.8%), and to be smokers (35.1% v. 30.2%). Hearing impaired workers were the most likely to use alcohol (72.8% v. 52.0%). Non-working adults with mobility limitations were most likely to be physically inactive (54.3% v. 35.4%). After adjusting for demographics, the odds of having fair/poor health, chronic conditions and engaging in most adverse health behaviors decreased sharply for workers in each disability group.

Conclusions/Implications: Our findings showed strong differences in health status, depressive symptoms, chronic conditions and health behaviors between working and non-working adults for all physical disability groups. Health promotion efforts for non-working adults with disabilities to treat chronic diseases and improve health behavior practices may increase their ability to gain employment and remain in the workforce.