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The Impact of Work Loss on Mental and Physical Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Baseline Findings from a Prospective Cohort Study.
- Source :
- Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation; Sep2021, Vol. 31 Issue 3, p455-462, 8p, 2 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Purpose To determine if losing work during the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with mental and physical health status. To determine if social interactions and financial resources moderate the relationship between work loss and health. Methods Participants were Australians aged 18 + years that were employed in paid work prior to the COVID-19 pandemic who responded to an online or telephone survey from 27<superscript>th</superscript> March to 12<superscript>th</superscript> June 2020 as part of a prospective longitudinal cohort study. Outcome measures include Kessler-6 score > 18 indicating high psychological distress, and Short Form 12 (SF-12) mental health or physical health component score < = 45 indicating poor mental or physical health. Results The cohort consisted of 2,603 respondents, including groups who had lost their job (N = 541), were not working but remained employed (N = 613), were working less (N = 660), and whose work was unaffected (N = 789). Three groups experiencing work loss had greater odds of high psychological distress (AOR = 2.22–3.66), poor mental (AOR = 1.78–2.27) and physical health (AOR = 2.10–2.12) than the unaffected work group. Poor mental health was more common than poor physical health. The odds of high psychological distress (AOR = 5.43–8.36), poor mental (AOR = 1.92–4.53) and physical health (AOR = 1.93–3.90) were increased in those reporting fewer social interactions or less financial resources. Conclusion Losing work during the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with mental and physical health problems, and this relationship is moderated by social interactions and financial resources. Responses that increase financial security and enhance social connections may alleviate the health impacts of work loss. Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12620000857909. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- LABOR productivity
CONFIDENCE intervals
INTERNET
TELEPHONES
WORK capacity evaluation
MENTAL health
SURVEYS
INTERPERSONAL relations
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
EMPLOYMENT
RESEARCH funding
SOCIAL skills
ECONOMIC aspects of diseases
DATA analysis software
ODDS ratio
LOGISTIC regression analysis
COVID-19 pandemic
LONGITUDINAL method
PSYCHOLOGICAL distress
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10530487
- Volume :
- 31
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 151526494
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-021-09958-7