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Association of State Minimum Wage Rates and Health in Working-Age Adults Using the National Health Interview Survey.

Authors :
Buszkiewicz, James H
Hill, Heather D
Otten, Jennifer J
Source :
American Journal of Epidemiology; Jan2021, Vol. 190 Issue 1, p21-30, 10p
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

States adopt minimum wages to improve workers' economic circumstances and well-being. Many studies, but not all, find evidence of health benefits from higher minimum wages. This study used a rigorous "triple difference" strategy to identify the associations between state minimum wages and adult obesity, body mass index (weight (kg)/height (m)<superscript>2</superscript>), hypertension, diabetes, fair or poor health, and serious psychological distress. National Health Interview Survey data (United States, 2008–2015) on adults aged 25–64 years (n  = 131,430) were linked to state policies to estimate the prevalence odds ratio or mean difference in these outcomes associated with a $1 increase in current and 2-year lagged minimum wage among less-educated adults overall and by sex, race/ethnicity, and age. In contrast to prior studies, there was no association between current minimum wage and health; however, 2-year lagged minimum wage was positively associated with the likelihood of obesity (prevalence odds ratio = 1.08, 95% confidence interval: 1.00, 1.16) and with elevated body mass index (mean difference = 0.27, 95% confidence interval: 0.04, 0.49). In subgroup models, current and 2-year lagged minimum wage were associated with a higher likelihood of obesity among male and non-White or Hispanic adults. The associations with hypertension also varied by sex and the timing of the exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00029262
Volume :
190
Issue :
1
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
American Journal of Epidemiology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
148072179
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwaa018