204281 Young Adults, Mortality, and Employment

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Evelyn Davila, MPH , Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Florida International University, Miami, FL
Alberto J. Caban-Martinez, MPH , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine - NIOSH Research Group, Miami, FL
Lora E. Fleming, MD, PhD , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine - OHH Center and NIOSH Research Group, Miami, FL
David J. Lee, PhD , Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
William G. LeBlanc, PhD , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine - NIOSH Research Group, Miami, FL
Kristopher L. Arheart, EdD , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine - NIOSH Research Group, Miami, FL
Kathryn E. McCollister, PhD , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Sharon L. Christ, PhD , Purdue University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, West Lafayette, IN
Elizabeth Goodman, MD , Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
Frederick Zimmerman, PhD , Department of Health Services School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Carles Muntaner, MD, PhD , Center for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Objective:

Relatively little is known about the mortality risk among young adult workers. The present study assessed the association between employment status and mortality risk among young adults using a nationally representative sample.

Methods:

Data on 121,478 young adults aged 18-24 years (representing an estimated 21,293,856 young adults) from the 1986-2000 National Health Interview Survey with mortality follow-up through 2002 were pooled and analyzed. Logistic regression analyses were conducted, with death from all-cause, homicide, suicide, motor vehicle accident, and “other” after 2-year of follow-up as the outcome variables and employment status as the main predictor, with gender and race controlled. The analyses adjusted for complex survey design using SUDAAN software.

Results:

Among all young adults age 18-24, employment was associated with greater all-cause (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) =1.61 [95% Confidence Interval= 1.27-2.05]) and homicide mortality risk (AOR 1.95 [1.04-3.65]), “other” cause (AOR 1.88 [1.31-2.70]. Among young adults, relative to Whites, Blacks had greater risk of all-cause (AOR 1.56 [1.16-2.09]), homicide (AOR 4.73 [2.55-8.80]), and “other” mortality (AOR 1.80 [1.19-2.71]). Independent of employment status, lower educational attainment, Black race, and male gender were associated with increased mortality risk.

Conclusion:

Although the cause of death cannot be confirmed to be work-related, the results demonstrate that employed young workers are more likely to die relative to unemployed young adults. The workplace can serve as a venue for educating young adult workers about possible occupational and non-occupational health risks that may lead to this premature mortality.

Learning Objectives:
1) Assess the association between employment and mortality risk among young adults using a nationally representative sample. 2) Discuss the potential importance of the workplace for educating young workers about their risk for premature mortality and ways to prevent harm off and on the job.

Keywords: Youth, Mortality

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Have a degree in public health.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: OHS Posters - Surveillance
See more of: Occupational Health and Safety