Types of employment and their associations with work characteristics and health in Swedish women and men

Abstract

Aim: To investigate whether type of employment was related to work characteristics and health status at age 42 adjusted for health status at age 30 and whether gender moderates the associations. Methods: Questionnaire data was used from a 27-year follow-up study of school-leavers carried out in Luleå in the north of Sweden (response rate 94%). The study population consisted of 877 (47.8% women) working respondents. Data were analysed by means of t-tests, ANOVAs, and multiple linear regression analyses. Results: Men were more often self-employed, while more women had temporary types of employment. Moreover, men reported more control over work and less emotional exhaustion than women. Compared to permanently employed, self-employed (men and women) perceived more control over work and better health status (p<0.01). Self-employed men also reported more demands and social support (p<0.05). People in temporary types of employment, however, reported less job control, as well as lower health status (only men) (p<0.01). Poor self-reported health and emotional exhaustion were significantly (p<0.05) associated with poor work characteristics (more demands, lower job control, and lower support). Conclusions: No direct associations between type of employment and health were found for women and men. However we find indications of an influence of type of employment on work and thereupon health, with job control playing an important role.