Precarious employment and general, mental and physical health in Stockholm, Sweden: a cross-sectional study

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  • Johanna Jonsson
  • Nuria Matilla-Santander
  • Kreshpaj, Bertina
  • Gun Johansson
  • Katarina Kjellberg
  • Bo Burström
  • Per-Olof Östergren
  • Karin Nilsson
  • Susanne Strömdahl
  • Cecilia Orellana
  • Theo Bodin

Objectives: To investigate the association between precarious employment and health in a sample of non-standard employees in Stockholm County, Sweden, by addressing three specific research questions: is the degree of precarious employment (low, moderate, high) associated with self-rated. . . (a) general health, (b) mental health, (c) musculoskeletal pain? Methods: Web-based respondent-driven sampling was used to recruit a sample of 415 employees in Stockholm, Sweden, during 2016-2017. Questionnaire data were collected on employment conditions (the Swedish version of the employment precariousness scale (EPRES-Se)), general health, mental health and musculoskeletal pain. EPRES-Se scores were categorised as low, moderate or high. Generalised linear models with Poisson distribution, log link functions and robust variances were applied for calculating crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR; aPR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all outcomes. Results: The prevalence ratios of poor self-rated general and mental health increased with increased degree of precariousness, as indicated by estimates of moderate precarious employment (a2PRModerate 1.44 (CI 0.98-2.11); a2PRModerate 1.13 (CI 0.82-1.62)), and high precarious employment (a2PRHigh 1.78 (CI 1.21-2.62); a2PRHigh 1.69 (CI 1.25-2.28)), albeit only significantly so for high precarious employment. Conclusions: This is the first study in Sweden reporting on the association between precarious employment, as measured with a multidimensional scale, and multiple health outcomes. The results add to the evidence of an association between precarious employment and self-rated poor general and mental health. Larger, representative studies with longitudinal designs using the EPRES-Se are called for in order to strengthen these results and the already existing evidence of the harm of precarious employment.

Original languageEnglish
Book seriesScandinavian Journal of Public Health
Volume49
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)228-236
Number of pages9
ISSN1403-4956
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Adolescent, Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Employment/statistics & numerical data, Female, Health Status, Humans, Male, Mental Health/statistics & numerical data, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sweden, Young Adult

ID: 327062354