Employment and Health Among Working Age Adults with and without Disabilities

While it is commonly accepted that individuals with disabilities have low rates of employment and experience health disparities, little work has examined the relationship between employment and health and disability.  The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between employment and health outcomes, health behaviors and health utilization among people with physical limitations, multiple limitations those without disabilities.

Method:

Using pooled data from the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (2004–2010), a nationally-representative survey of the US civilian population we examined the relationship between employment and health behaviors and health outcomes and health utilization among five disability subgroups and the non-disabled population.  Analyses included Chi-square tests and t-tests; and logistic regression to examine health and employment each disability subgroup, while controlling for covariates, among all respondents.

Findings:

Employment among individuals with disabilities was associated with better health behaviors, health outcomes, lower utilization and lower costs.  Individuals with disabilities with paid employment had significantly lower rates of smoking, and higher rates of participation in moderately vigorous physical activity than those who were not employed; self-reported health status was significantly higher, while total health care expenditures and healthcare use were significantly lower.

Conclusions:

This study expands earlier analyses by examining associations between employment and health for people with disabilities. All disability groups who were employed were significantly more likely to use fewer services, have fewer healthcare expenditures, have better health outcomes, and better health behaviors.  At the same time, employed individuals with multiple chronic conditions were more likely to be uninsured.

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Learning Areas:

Chronic disease management and prevention
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Describe the relationship between employment and health outcomes, health behaviors and health utilization among people with physical limitations, multiple limitations those without disabilities.

Keyword(s): Disabilities, Health Disparities/Inequities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal or co-principal of multiple federally funded grants focusing on the epidemiology of health disparities and health promotion for people with disabilities.
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.

Back to: 4189.0: Poster #5 - Emerging Issues in Disability and Public Health