PubMed Search: National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health   
Crossed with keywords: Job, Work, Employment, Occupation, and Vocation
Conducted on: Tuesday, January 5, 2009

1. Am J Public Health. 2009 Oct;99(10):1826-32. Epub 2009 Aug 20.

The influence of past unemployment duration on symptoms of depression among young
women and men in the United States.

Mossakowski KN.

Department of Sociology, University of Miami, 5202 University Drive, Coral
Gables, FL 33146, USA. krysia@miami.edu

OBJECTIVES: I examined whether unemployment while looking for a job and being out
of the labor force while not seeking work have distinct effects on symptoms of
depression among young women and men in the United States. I also investigated
whether past unemployment duration predicts depressive symptoms. METHODS: I used 
ordinary least squares regression to analyze data from the 1979-1994 National
Longitudinal Survey of Youth. RESULTS: Cross-sectional results suggested that
current unemployment status and out-of-the-labor-force status were significantly 
associated with depressive symptoms at ages 29 through 37 years. The association 
between being out of the labor force and depressive symptoms was stronger for
men. Longitudinal results revealed that past unemployment duration across 15
years of the transition to adulthood significantly predicted depressive symptoms,
net of demographics, family background, current socioeconomic status, and prior
depressive symptoms. However, duration out of the labor force did not predict
depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Longer durations of unemployment predict higher
levels of depressive symptoms among young adults. Future research should measure 
duration longitudinally and distinguish unemployment from being out of the labor 
force to advance our understanding of socioeconomic mental health disparities.

PMID: 19696382 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


2. Med Trop (Mars). 2009 Feb;69(1):91-6.

[Commercial sexual exploitation of minor girls. A multifocal, exploratory and
prospective study in Cameroon]

[Article in French]

Mbassa Menick D, Dassa KS, Kenmogne JB, Abanda Ngon G.

Clinique universitaire de psychiatrie et de psychologie médicale, Hôpital Jamot
de Yaoundé, Cameroun. menickfr@yahoo.fr

To obtain reliable information on commercial sexual exploitation of minor girls
under the age of 21, a multifocal, exploratry and prospective using a
questionnaire was undertaken in Cameroon. This investigation was initiated and
funded by the Cercle International pour la Promotion de la Création (CIPCRE) and 
carried out by the Cameroon Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
(CASPCAN). The survey was performed during the last quarter of year 2004 in four 
major cities of Cameroon, i.e. Yaoundé, Douala, Bamenca and Bafoussam. Of the 800
questionnaires that were distributed, 722 were considered as suitable for
analysis (90.3%). A total of 291 minor girls were victims of commercial sexual
exploitation, i.e., 40% of the population studied. The mean age of the victims
was 16.6 years (range, 9-20 years). The main reason given for entering
prostitution was poverty. The victims were fairly well educated but the level of 
instruction was not sufficient to find a job paying an income comparable to
prostitution. Many were from large families (mean, 7.1 children). The victims'
family was monogamous in 40.2% of cases, polygamous in 24.4%, and monoparental in
35.4%. Eighty percent of the victims already had run away from home at least once
due to problems in their families ranging from severe corporal punishment (25.8%)
and mistreatment linked to parental alcohol and drug abuse to forced early
marriage (27.5%) and intrafamilial sexual abuse. A large proportion of the
victims (36.4%) were mothers who could not attend school and could not find work.
Many victims were completely neglected by their own parents with 43.4% of parents
being aware of the activities of their daughters but only 10.6% being opposed to 
it. Most (78.5%) had good knowledge of the risk of HIV and used condoms regular. 
These results confirms the general hypothesis of the authors that commercial
exploitation of minor girls is widespread in Cameroon. The authors recommend
development of a national program to combat this plight.

PMID: 19499745 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


3. Am J Epidemiol. 2009 May 1;169(9):1085-91. Epub 2009 Mar 24.

Changes in perceived job strain and the risk of major depression: results from a 
population-based longitudinal study.

Wang J, Schmitz N, Dewa C, Stansfeld S.

Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary,
Alberta, Canada. jlwang@ucalgary.ca

Comment in:
    Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Jul 1;170(1):131-2; author reply 132-3.

Major depression is a prevalent mental disorder in the working population.
Improving the work environment may reduce the risk of major depression. The
authors examined data from the longitudinal cohort of the Canadian National
Population Health Survey from 1994-1995 to 2004-2005. Survey participants were
classified into 4 groups by changes in job strain status from 1994-1995 to
2000-2001 (no change in low job strain, no change in high job strain, changing
from high to low job strain, and changing from low to high job strain). The
incidence proportion of major depressive episodes in each of the 4 groups was
4.0%, 8.0%, 4.4%, and 6.9%, respectively. Participants who reported a change from
high to low job strain had a risk of major depression similar to those exposed to
persistently low job strain. Among those exposed to persistent high job strain,
only participants who reported good or excellent health at baseline had a higher 
risk of major depression, but those who reported fair or poor health did not.
Reducing job strain may have positive impacts on the risk of depression.
Self-rated health is a strong predictor of depression and plays an important role
in the relation between job strain and depression.

PMID: 19318611 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


4. Soc Sci Med. 2009 Jan;68(1):49-59. Epub 2008 Nov 17.

A multi-group cross-lagged analyses of work stressors and health using Canadian
National sample.

Ibrahim S, Smith P, Muntaner C.

Institute for Work and Health, 481 University Avenue, Suite 800, Toronto, Canada 
M5G 2E9. sibrahim@iwh.on.ca

This article examines the reciprocal relationships between work variables and
health outcomes and if these relationships differ by social class (measured by
occupational grouping). We used longitudinal data from the 1994/95--2002/03
Canadian National Population Health Survey (NPHS). Karasek's work stress
variables were measured in the 1994/95 (cycle 1, time 1), 2000/01 (cycle 4, time 
2) and 2002/03 (cycle 5, time 3) surveys. Analyses were limited to 2556
respondents aged 18-56 at time 1 and who remained in the same social class (as
defined by occupational position) for all the three time points. Work variables
used were job strain ratio, work social support and job insecurity. Health
outcomes used were distress, depression and self-rated health. Multi-group path
analyses were used to investigate the reciprocal relationships between work and
health variables and if these relationships differed by social class. Analyses
controlled for age, gender, marital status and work status. We find there is a
differential burden of work psychosocial factors and health outcomes by social
class. The cross-lagged relationships between work and health depended on the
outcome, social class and time lag. More significant paths from work to health
were observed than reverse paths from health to work. More significant
relationships between work and health were observed for the shorter time lag (2
years) compared to longer time lags (6 years). Low work social support and job
insecurity were more detrimental to health for respondents in lower social class 
positions. Findings from this study highlight the importance of time lag, and to 
some extent social class, in the reciprocal relationships between work and
health.

PMID: 19010577 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


5. J Appl Psychol. 2008 Jul;93(4):849-63.

How the rich (and happy) get richer (and happier): relationship of core
self-evaluations to trajectories in attaining work success.

Judge TA, Hurst C.

Department of Management, Warrington College of Business, University of Florida, 
Gainesville, FL 32606, USA. timothy.judge@cba.ufl.edu

In this study, the authors linked core self-evaluations to job and work success. 
Utilizing a dynamic design from participants in the National Longitudinal Surveys
of Youth (NLSY79), core self-evaluations were hypothesized to predict
individuals' intercepts (starting levels of success), and their growth
trajectories (slope of individuals' success over time) with respect to job
satisfaction, pay, and occupational status. Results indicated that higher core
self-evaluations were associated with both higher initial levels of work success 
and steeper work success trajectories. Education and health problems that
interfere with work mediated a portion of the hypothesized relationships,
suggesting that individuals with high core self-evaluations have more ascendant
jobs and careers, in part, because they are more apt to pursue further education 
and maintain better health.

PMID: 18642988 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


6. Soc Networks. 2007 May;29(2):231-248.

Advances in Exponential Random Graph (p*) Models Applied to a Large Social
Network.

Goodreau SM.

University of Washington, Dept. of Anthropology and Center for Studies in
Demography and Ecology.

Recent advances in statistical network analysis based on the family of
exponential random graph (ERG) models have greatly improved our ability to
conduct inference on dependence in large social networks (Snijders 2002, Pattison
and Robins 2002, Handcock 2002, Handcock 2003, Snijders et al. 2006, Hunter et
al. 2005, Goodreau et al. 2005, previous papers this issue). This paper applies
advances in both model parameterizations and computational algorithms to an
examination of the structure observed in an adolescent friendship network of
1,681 actors from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health
(AddHealth). ERG models of social network structure are fit using the R package
statnet, and their adequacy assessed through comparison of model predictions with
the observed data for higher-order network statistics.For this friendship
network, the commonly used model of Markov dependence leads to the problems of
degeneracy discussed by Handcock (2002, 2003). On the other hand, model
parameterizations introduced by Snijders et al (2006) and Hunter and Handcock
(2006) avoid degeneracy and provide reasonable fit to the data. Degree-only
models did a poor job of capturing observed network structure; those that did
best included terms both for heterogeneous mixing on exogenous attributes (grade 
and self-reported race) as well as endogenous clustering. Networks simulated from
this model were largely consistent with the observed network on multiple
higher-order network statistics, including the number of triangles, the size of
the largest component, the overall reachability, the distribution of geodesic
distances, the degree distribution, and the shared partner distribution. The
ability to fit such models to large datasets and to make inference about the
underling processes generating the network represents a major advance in the
field of statistical network analysis.

PMCID: PMC2031833
PMID: 18449326 [PubMed]


7. Sex Transm Dis. 2008 Nov;35(11 Suppl):S3-7.

Estimates of Chlamydia trachomatis infections among men: United States.

Satterwhite CL, Joesoef MR, Datta SD, Weinstock H.

Division of STD Prevention, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. clindsey@cdc.gov

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of genital Chlamydia trachomatis
infections among men in the United States. STUDY DESIGN: Data from the notifiable
disease case surveillance system, the National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey (NHANES), the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health
(AddHealth), the National Job Training Program, the Men Having Sex with Men (MSM)
Prevalence Monitoring Project, and adult and juvenile corrections facilities were
used to summarize national chlamydia case and prevalence rates. Data were
stratified by age and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: In 2005, 232,781 chlamydia cases
among men were reported, corresponding to a rate of 161.1 cases per 100,000 men, 
an increase of 43.5% compared with the case rate in 2001 (112.3).
Population-based chlamydia prevalence rates from NHANES (1999-2002) were highest 
among men aged 20 to 29 years (3.2%); men aged 18 to 26 years participating in
AddHealth (2001-2002) had a 3.7% prevalence rate. Rates were highest among black 
men in both NHANES (5.3%) and AddHealth (11.1%). The prevalence rate among men
(aged 16-24 years) participating in the National Job Training Program was 8.1%.
Among MSM, the 2005 median urethral chlamydia prevalence rate was 6%. Overall,
chlamydia rates were highest in adult corrections facilities; the 2005 positivity
rate among men aged 21 to 25 years was 7.8%. In juvenile corrections facilities, 
the 2005 positivity rate among men aged 15 to 17 years was 6.7%. CONCLUSIONS:
Rates of genital C. trachomatis infections among men are persistently high,
particularly among men entering the National Job Training Program and men in
corrections facilities. The burden of disease is generally highest among young
men and black men.

PMID: 18418299 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


8. J Occup Health. 2008 Jan;50(1):31-40.

Association of physical job demands, smoking and alcohol abuse with subsequent
premature mortality: a 9-year follow-up population-based study.

Bourgkard E, Wild P, Massin N, Meyer JP, Otero Sierra C, Fontana JM, Benamghar L,
Mur JM, Ravaud JF, Guillemin F, Chau N; Lorhandicap Group.

Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité (INRS), WHO Collaborative Centre,
Département d'Epidémiologie en Entreprises, France.

This study assessed the relationships of physical job demands (PJD), smoking, and
alcohol abuse, with premature mortality before age 70 (PM-70) among the working
or inactive population. The sample included 4,268 subjects aged 15 or more
randomly selected in north-eastern France. They completed a mailed questionnaire 
(birth date, sex, weight, height, job, PJD, smoking habit, alcohol abuse (Deta
questionnaire)) in 1996 and were followed for mortality until 2004 (9 yr). PJD
score was defined by the cumulative number of the following high job demands at
work: hammer, vibrating platform, pneumatic tools, other vibrating hand tools,
screwdriver, handling objects, awkward posture, tasks at heights, machine tools, 
pace, working on a production line, standing about and walking. The data were
analyzed using the Poisson regression model. Those with PM-70 were 126 (3.81 per 
1,000 person-years). The leading causes of death were cancers (46.4% in men,
57.1% in women), cardiovascular diseases (20.2% and 11.9%), suicide (9.5% and
7.1%), respiratory diseases (6.0% and 4.8%), and digestive diseases (2.4% and
4.8%). PJD3, smoker, and alcohol abuse had adjusted risk ratios of 1.71 (95% CI
1.02-2.88), 1.76 (1.08-2.88), and 2.07 (1.31-3.26) respectively for all-cause
mortality. Manual workers had a risk ratio of 1.84 (1.00-3.37) compared to the
higher socio-economic classes. The men had a two-fold higher mortality rate than 
the women; this difference became non-significant when controlling for job, PJD, 
smoker and alcohol abuse. For cancer mortality the factors PJD3, smoker, and
alcohol abuse had adjusted risk ratios of 2.00 (1.00-3.99), 2.34 (1.19-4.63), and
2.22 (1.17-4.20), respectively. Health promotion efforts should be directed at
structural measures of task redesign and they should also concern lifestyle.

PMID: 18285642 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


9. J Occup Environ Med. 2007 Sep;49(9):990-6.

Job strain, life events, and sickness absence: a longitudinal cohort study in a
random population sample.

Suominen S, Vahtera J, Korkeila K, Helenius H, Kivimäki M, Koskenvuo M.

Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Lemminkäisenkatu 1, FIN 20014
University of Turku, Finland. sakari.suominen@utu.fi

OBJECTIVE: To examine job strain, adverse life events, and their co-occurrence as
predictors of sickness absence. METHODS: Random sample-based mail survey data on 
1806 Finns in gainful employment were linked to sickness absence records
(1987-1998) from national health registers. Generalized linear models with
negative binomial distribution assumption were applied. RESULTS: After adjustment
for demographic characteristics and health behavior, job strain (rate ratio [RR] 
1.73; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.21-2.48), but not life events,
independently predicted increased rate of sickness absence among men. The
opposite was true for women, (RR for life events 1.39; 95% CI = 1.10-1.75). No
statistically significant interaction between job strain and life events was
detected. CONCLUSION: In addition to job strain, strain originating in private
life should be kept in mind when the need for sickness absence of women employees
is evaluated within health care.

PMID: 17848855 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


10. Occup Environ Med. 2008 Feb;65(2):120-5. Epub 2007 Aug 6.

Mortality, morbidity and occupational exposure to airway-irritating agents among 
men with a respiratory diagnosis in adolescence.

Wiebert P, Svartengren M, Lindberg M, Hemmingsson T, Lundberg I, Nise G.

Dr P Wiebert, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Norrbacka,
Karolinska Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden; pernilla.wiebert@sll.se.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the influence of an airway diagnosis in adolescence on
future health and occupation in Swedish men. METHODS: Data were collected from
the linkage of four Swedish national registers: the Military Service Conscription
Register, the Population and Housing Censuses, the Inpatient Care Register and
the National Cause of Death Register. A job-exposure matrix for airway-irritating
substances was developed for application on the conscription cohort. The cohort
included 49 321 Swedish men born 1949-51. Three groups-(1) healthy, (2)
asthmatics (mild and severe asthma) and (3) subjects with allergic rhinitis
without concurrent asthma-were identified at conscription and analysed for
mortality, in-patient care and strategies for choice of occupation with emphasis 
on airway-irritating job exposure. Analyses were adjusted for smoking and
childhood socioeconomic position. RESULTS: The prevalence of total asthma was
1.8%, severe asthma 0.45% and allergic rhinitis 2.7%. Mortality for all causes
was significantly higher in total asthma, hazard ratio (HR) 1.49 (95% CI 1.00 to 
2.23), and lower in allergic rhinitis, HR 0.52 (95% CI 0.30 to 0.91). Asthma was 
a risk factor for inpatient care while allergic rhinitis was associated with less
in-patient care (odds ratio (OR) for total asthma 1.16 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.34),
severe asthma 1.38 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.85), allergic rhinitis 0.92 (95% CI 0.82 to 
1.03)). Those with asthma tended to avoid jobs with a high probability for
airway-irritating exposure (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.09), but not to the same
extent as subjects with allergic rhinitis (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.70) (ORs
from 1990). CONCLUSION: Subjects with asthma did not change their exposure
situation to the same extent as subjects with allergic rhinitis. Further,
asthmatics had an increased risk for morbidity and mortality compared to healthy 
subjects and subjects with allergic rhinitis.

PMID: 17681997 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


11. Work. 2007;28(3):225-30.

Who is at risk for long-term sickness absence? A prospective cohort study of
Danish employees.

Lund T, Labriola M, Villadsen E.

National Institute of Occupational Health, Copenhagen, Denmark.

AIM: The aim of this study was to identify who is at risk for long-term sickness 
absence according to occupation, gender, education, age, business sector, agency 
size and ownership. METHODS: The study is based on a sample of 5357 employees
aged 18-69, interviewed in 2000. The cohort was followed up in a national
register from January 1st 2001 to June 30th 2003, to identify cases with sickness
absences that exceeded 8 weeks. RESULTS: During follow-up 486 persons (9.1%)
experienced one or more periods of absence that exceeded 8 weeks. Higher risk of 
long-term sickness absence was associated with gender, age, educational level,
and the municipal employment sector. Kindergarten teachers and people employed in
day care, health care, janitorial work, food preparation, and unskilled workers
were at greatest risk. Managers, computer professionals, technicians and
designers, and professionals had lower risks. The health care and social service 
sectors were also in the high risk category, whereas the private administration
sector had a lower risk. CONCLUSIONS: The study identifies specific occupational 
target populations and documents the need to perform job-specific research and
tailor interventions if the intended policy of decreasing long-term sickness
absence within the Danish labour market is to be realized.

PMID: 17429148 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


12. Health Rep. 2006 Oct;17(4):11-29.

Stress and depression in the employed population.

Shields M.

Health Statistics Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0T6.
Margot.Shields@statcan.ca

OBJECTIVES: This article describes stress levels among the employed population
aged 18 to 75 and examines associations between stress and depression. DATA
SOURCES: Data are from the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health
and Well-being and the longitudinal component of the 1994/95 through 2002/03
National Population Health Survey. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES: Stress levels were
calculated by sex, age and employment characteristics. Multivariate analyses were
used to examine associations between stress and depression in 2002, and between
stress and incident depression over a two-year period, while controlling for age,
employment characteristics, and factors originating outside the workplace. MAIN
RESULTS: In 2002, women reported higher levels of job strain and general
day-to-day stress. When the various sources of stress were considered
simultaneously, along with other possible confounders, for both sexes, high
levels of general day-to-day stress and low levels of co-worker support were
associated with higher odds of depression, as was high job strain for men. Over a
two-year period, men with high strain jobs and women with high personal stress
and low co-worker support had elevated odds of incident depression.

PMID: 17111591 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


13. Adm Policy Ment Health. 2007 Jan;34(1):45-56. Epub 2006 Jun 10.

Predictors of workforce turnover in a transported treatment program.

Sheidow AJ, Schoenwald SK, Wagner HR, Allred CA, Burns BJ.

Family Services Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President Street, 250861,
Charleston, SC, USA. sheidoaj@musc.edu

This study examined relations between workforce turnover and select clinician
(demographic and professional characteristics and perceptions of treatment model 
features and job requirements) organizational (perceptions of organizational
climate and structure) and program level (salary, case mix) variables in a sample
of 453 clinicians across 45 organizations participating in a transportability
study of an empirically supported adolescent treatment (i.e., MST). At 20%
annually, turnover was lower than in the national mental health workforce (i.e., 
50-60%). Clinician demographic, professional background, and perceptions of the
treatment model and demands did not predict turnover. Perceptions of an
emotionally demanding organizational climate, program salary level, and program
case mix of youth did predict turnover.

PMID: 16767507 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


14. Arch Dermatol. 2006 Mar;142(3):305-11.

Prognosis of occupational hand eczema: a follow-up study.

Cvetkovski RS, Zachariae R, Jensen H, Olsen J, Johansen JD, Agner T.

Department of Dermatology, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup,
Denmark.

Comment in:
    Arch Dermatol. 2006 Mar;142(3):362-4.

OBJECTIVE: To identify prognostic risk factors in patients with occupational hand
eczema (OHE). DESIGN: Cohort study with 1-year follow-up. SETTING: Danish
National Board of Industrial Injuries Registry. PATIENTS: All patients with newly
recognized OHE (758 cases) from October 1, 2001, through November 10, 2002.
INTERVENTIONS: Participants received a questionnaire covering self-rated
severity, sick leave, loss of job, depression, and health-related quality of
life. One year after the questionnaire was returned, all responders (N = 621)
received a follow-up questionnaire, and 564 (91%) returned it. MAIN OUTCOME
MEASURES: Persistently severe or aggravated OHE, prolonged sick leave, and loss
of job after 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, 25% of all
patients with OHE had persistently severe or aggravated disease, 41% improved,
and 34% had unchanged minimal or mild to moderate disease. Patients with atopic
dermatitis fared poorly compared with other patients. Patients younger than 25
years fared clearly better than older groups. Furthermore, severe OHE, age 40
years or greater, and severe impairment of quality of life at baseline appeared
to be important predictors of prolonged sick leave and unemployment. Patients
with lower socioeconomic status also had a high risk of prolonged sick leave, job
change, and loss of job. Contact allergy was not found to be a risk factor for
poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Atopic dermatitis, greater age, and low
socioeconomic status may be reliable prognostic factors in early OHE. Quality of 
life and standardized severity assessment may also be valuable tools to identify 
patients at high risk of prolonged sick leave and unemployment.

PMID: 16549705 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


15. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2005 Nov 8;3:68.

Evaluating change in health-related quality of life in adult rhinitis:
responsiveness of the Rhinosinusitis Disability Index.

Chen H, Katz PP, Shiboski S, Blanc PD.

Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
hubert.chen@ucsf.edu

BACKGROUND: The Rhinosinusitis Disability Index (RSDI) is a validated measure of 
health-related quality of life (HRQL) in rhinitis. Responsiveness of the RSDI to 
changes in health status over time has not been described. METHODS: We studied
adults with a self-reported physician diagnosis of rhinitis identified through a 
national telephone survey. HRQL was assessed at baseline and at 24 months using
the RSDI. Symptom severity, physical health status (SF-12 PCS), psychological
mood (CES-D), and perceived control of symptoms were also assessed at the time of
each interview. In addition, we ascertained specific health outcomes attributed
to rhinitis, including days of restricted activity, job effectiveness, number of 
physician visits, and medication costs. RESULTS: Of 109 subjects interviewed at
baseline, 69 (63%) were re-interviewed 24 months later. RSDI scores improved by =
0.5 standardized response mean in 13 (19%) subjects and worsened in 17 (25%).
Change in the RSDI over time correlated with changes in symptom severity (r =
0.38, p = 0.001), physical health (r = -0.39, p = 0.001), mood (r = 0.37, p =
0.002) and perceived control of symptoms (r = -0.37, p = 0.01). In multivariate
analyses adjusted for baseline health status, improvement in RSDI was associated 
with less restricted activity (p = 0.01), increased job effectiveness (p = 0.03),
and decreased medication costs (p = 0.05), but was not associated with change in 
the number of physician visits from baseline (p = 0.45). CONCLUSION: The RSDI is 
responsive to changes in health status and predicts rhinitis-specific health
outcomes.

PMCID: PMC1308842
PMID: 16277662 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


16. J Occup Environ Med. 2005 Aug;47(8):769-77.

The association of health risks with on-the-job productivity.

Burton WN, Chen CY, Conti DJ, Schultz AB, Pransky G, Edington DW.

University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois, USA.

OBJECTIVE: Decreased on-the-job productivity represents a large yet poorly
characterized indirect cost to employers. We studied the impact of employee
health risk factors on self-reported worker productivity (presenteeism). METHODS:
Using a brief version of the Work Limitation Questionnaire incorporated into a
Health Risk Appraisal, 28,375 employees of a national company responded to the
survey. The association between health risks and work limitation and each of the 
four domains was examined. Percentage of lost productivity also was estimated.
RESULTS: Ten of 12 health risk factors studied were significantly associated with
self-reported work limitations. The strength of the associations varied between
risks and the four domains of work limitation. Perception-related risk factors
such as life dissatisfaction, job dissatisfaction, poor health, and stress showed
the greatest association with presenteeism. As the number of self-reported health
risk factors increased, so did the percentage of employees reporting work
limitations. Each additional risk factor was associated with 2.4% excess
productivity reduction. Medium and high-risk individuals were 6.2% and 12.2% less
productive than low-risk individuals, respectively. The annual cost of lost
productivity in this corporation was estimated at between 99Mdollars and
185Mdollars or between 1392dollars and 2592dollars per employee. CONCLUSIONS:
Health risk factors represent additional causes of lost productivity.

PMID: 16093926 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


17. Health Soc Work. 2005 Feb;30(1):7-17.

Stability of health care coverage among low-income working women.

Anderson SG, Eamon MK.

School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 61801, USA.
sandersn@uiuc.edu

This article examines health insurance stability patterns and the factors
associated with stable coverage in a sample of 453 low-income working women.
Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY), the authors
found that only 51 percent of these women had stable coverage during 1995-1997.
Logistic regression results indicate that, controlling for other factors, health 
insurance stability is significantly higher for those who have higher levels of
welfare receipt, have more work hours, have fewer job changes, have higher
education levels, are African American or Hispanic, and who live outside central 
cities. The findings suggest that point-in-time health coverage estimates
substantially underestimate the health coverage problems of low-income working
women. Health policies need to be more sensitive to transitional problems
resulting from job changes, marital disruptions, and other changes in
circumstances. Recommendations for revising health care policies and for
improving existing health care programs are presented.

PMID: 15847233 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


18. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2004 Fall;14(3):448-54.

Stimulant drug treatment in childhood-onset schizophrenia with comorbid ADHD: an 
open-label case series.

Tossell JW, Greenstein DK, Davidson AL, Job SB, Gochman P, Lenane M, Nugent Iii
TF, Gogtay N, Sporn AL, Rapoport JL.

Child Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes
of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Building 10, Room 3N202,
Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. tossellj@intra.nimh.nih.gov

The administration of psychostimulants to children with psychotic symptoms is
controversial. This study reports the stimulant drug response of 5 children, aged
8-15 years, with childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS) and comorbid attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Four COS inpatients were given stimulants 
for comorbid ADHD after stabilization of psychosis on antipsychotic medication. A
fifth COS inpatient received stimulants while still actively psychotic, despite
concurrent neuroleptic treatment. Data from the 10-item Brief Conners Teachers
Ratings Scale (BCTRS) were examined the week before, and the week after,
stimulant addition. A paired t test, conducted using Conners Teachers data from
these 4 subjects, indicated significant improvement in ADHD symptoms (p = 0.02). 
Data obtained from a retrospective chart review indicated no significant
worsening of psychosis. The 2 subjects treated with mixed salts of
dextroamphetamine sulfate and amphetamine sulfate remained on that medication at 
6 months and at the 2-year follow-up. Our results suggest that ADHD comorbid with
COS may be safely treated with a stimulant, once the psychosis is stabilized. A
systematic investigation of this question may be warranted.

PMID: 15650502 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


19. Health Econ. 2004 Sep;13(9):885-99.

The wage effects of obesity: a longitudinal study.

Baum CL 2nd, Ford WF.

Economics and Finance Department, Middle Tennessee State University, USA.
cbaum@mtsu.edu

We use National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) data to examine the effects
of obesity on wages by gender. Sample means indicate that both men and women
experience a persistent obesity wage penalty over the first two decades of their 
careers. We then control for a standard set of socioeconomic and familial
variables but find that standard covariates do not explain why obese workers
experience persistent wage penalties. This suggests that other variables --
including job discrimination, health-related factors and/or obese workers'
behavior patterns -- may be the channels through which obesity adversely affects 
wages. The study closes with a discussion of the public policy implications
suggested by these findings.

PMID: 15362180 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


20. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2004 Apr;58(4):321-6.

Sickness absence as a predictor of mortality among male and female employees.

Vahtera J, Pentti J, Kivimäki M.

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Turku, Finland.
jussi.vahtera@occuphealth.fi

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent to which sickness absence is predictive of
mortality. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. Data on medically certified long
term absences (>3 days), self certified short term absences (1-3 days), and sick 
days were derived from employers' records and data on mortality from the national
mortality register. SETTING: 10 towns in Finland. PARTICIPANTS: 12821 male and
28915 female Finnish municipal employees with a job contract of five consecutive 
years. The mean follow up was 4.5 years. MAIN RESULTS: After adjustment for age, 
occupational status, and type of employment contract, the overall mortality rate 
was 4.3 (95% confidence intervals 2.6 to 7.0) and 3.3 (2.1 to 5.3) times greater 
in men and women with more than one long term absences per year than in those
with no absence. The corresponding hazard ratios for more than 15 annual sick
days were 4.7 (2.3 to 9.6) and 3.7 (1.5 to 9.1). Both these measures of sickness 
absence were also predictive of deaths from cardiovascular disease, cancer,
alcohol related causes, and suicide. Associations between short term sickness
absences and mortality were weaker and changed to non-significant after
adjustment for long term sickness absence. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest
that measures of sickness absence, such as long term absence spells and sick
days, are strong predictors of all cause mortality and mortality due to
cardiovascular disease, cancer, alcohol related causes, and suicide.

PMCID: PMC1732735
PMID: 15026447 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


21. Soc Sci Med. 2004 May;58(10):1889-901.

Tinker, tailor, soldier, patient: work attributes and depression disparities
among young adults.

Zimmerman FJ, Christakis DA, Vander Stoep A.

Department of Health Services, School of Public Health, University of Washington,
USA. fzimmer@u.washington.edu

Prior studies have consistently found the occurrence of depression to be higher
among persons with lower socio-economic status (SES), but causal mechanisms for
this relationship are often not well understood. For example, while depression
has been shown to increase during spells of unemployment, little work has been
done on job attributes that may be related to depression among employed people
early in their careers. This study links the 1992 wave of the National
Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort-which included Depression symptom scores
on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) instrument-to the US
Department of Labor's new occupational characteristics O*Net dataset. The
resulting dataset includes information regarding depression, SES, and specific
attributes of jobs held by the young adult respondents. Job attributes included
measures of social status, interpersonal stressors, and physical conditions.
Multivariate analysis revealed that for young men, higher job status is
associated with lower CES-D scores. Higher scores on the opposition scale, which 
measures the extent to which employees are obliged to take a position opposed to 
others, is associated with higher CES-D scores. For young women, physically
uncomfortable or dangerous jobs are associated with more depressive symptoms.
Results are stratified by race/ethnicity. For Black men, unlike for White men or 
Latinos, job security is associated with fewer depressive symptoms; and for
Latino men, but not for Black or White men, physically uncomfortable or dangerous
jobs are associated with more depressive symptoms. For Black women, job status is
associated with fewer depressive symptoms. We conclude that part of the
SES-depression relationship may arise from the psychosocial aspects of jobs,
which we have found to be significantly and meaningfully associated with
depressive symptoms among employed young adults.

PMID: 15020006 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


22. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2003 Jun;29(3):197-205.

Development of neck and hand-wrist symptoms in relation to duration of computer
use at work.

Jensen C.

National Institute of Occupational Health, Copenhagen, Denmark. cj@ami.dk

OBJECTIVES: This study attempted to identify risk factors for musculoskeletal
symptoms in the neck and hand-wrist regions among employees using computers at
work. METHODS: Computer users (N=5033) first received a questionnaire in the
beginning of 1999 (69% response rate, N=3475), and a follow-up questionnaire was 
mailed in December of 2000 to the 3361 respondents to the baseline survey (77%
response rate, N=2576). Health outcome was defined as musculoskeletal symptoms
for >7 days within the last year of follow-up among the nonsymptomatic
respondents at baseline. RESULTS: Men's and women's previous symptoms, women's
low influence at work and high-placed computer screen, and men's short time in
the same job and good computer skills were associated with neck symptoms.
Hand-wrist symptoms were predicted by previous symptoms and low influence at work
for both the men and women and sensorial demands for the women only. The duration
of computer use predicted hand-wrist symptoms [eg, odds ratio (OR) of 2.3, 95%
confidence interval (95% CI) 1.2-4.3, for almost continual computer use], but not
neck symptoms. For those with almost continual computer use, hand-wrist symptoms 
were associated with mouse use for at least half of the worktime (OR 4.0, 95% CI 
1.0-15.5) and not using the mouse at all (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.1-14.4), as compared
with mouse use for one-fourth of the worktime. CONCLUSIONS: Limiting computer use
to less than three-fourths of the worktime would help to prevent hand-wrist
symptoms. Furthermore, low influence at work predicts both neck and hand-wrist
symptoms.

PMID: 12828389 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


23. Ann Epidemiol. 2003 May;13(5):385-92.

Assessing exposure to crystalline silica from farm work: a population-based study
in the Southeastern United States.

Parks CG, Cooper GS, Nylander-French LA, Storm JF, Archer JD.

Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. parks@niehs.nih.gov

PURPOSE: Farm workers are exposed to crystalline silica, but there are no
established questionnaires to assess silica dust exposure from farm work in
epidemiologic studies. This study examines aspects of farm work that were used to
estimate potential silica dust exposure in a population-based study conducted in 
the southeastern United States. METHODS: We collected work and farming histories 
through in-person interviews with 620 participants in a population-based
case-control study of systemic lupus erythematosus. A dust-exposure matrix was
used to develop a telephone interview for 69 participants with potential medium- 
or high-level exposure, including questions on tasks, frequency, and farm
location. Soil systems maps were used to infer soil type (sandy/other). Exposure 
indices were constructed based on tasks, frequency, and soil type. RESULTS:
Thirty-six percent of study participants worked on a farm, but only 52 (8%) were 
classified in the high (n=16) or medium (n=36) exposure groups based on responses
to follow-up interview questions. Exposure indices based on open-ended job
descriptions in initial interviews correctly categorized 52% of participants who 
answered prompted questions on relevant dusty tasks in follow-up interviews.
CONCLUSIONS: Specific questions on dusty tasks and frequency are needed to
accurately assess silica exposure from farm work.

PMID: 12821278 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


24. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2003 Oct;42(10):1216-25. Epub 2003 Jun 16.

Prognostic factors in lateral epicondylitis: a randomized trial with one-year
follow-up in 266 new cases treated with minimal occupational intervention or the 
usual approach in general practice.

Haahr JP, Andersen JH.

Department of Occupational Medicine, Herning Hospital, Denmark. hecjph@ringamt.dk

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether minimal intervention by occupational specialists
involving information about the disorder, encouragement to stay active and
instruction in graded self-performed exercises could enhance the prognosis of
lateral epicondylitis compared with the treatment usually given in general
practice, to quantify workplace factors associated with the prognosis, and to
consider treatments given in general practice. METHODS: A randomized controlled
trial was performed in a cohort of 266 consecutive new cases of lateral
epicondylitis diagnosed in general practice. Workplace factors were assessed with
questionnaires at the time of inclusion, and patients completed follow-ups at 3, 
6 and 12 months. Status at 1 yr was assessed as overall improvement and pain
reduction compared with the time of diagnosis. General practitioners (GPs)
registered the treatments given for both cases and controls during follow-up.
Numbers of contacts with GPs and physiotherapists were obtained from the National
Health Insurance registry. Prognostic factors were analysed by multiple logistic 
regression analysis. RESULTS: After 1 yr, 83% of cases showed improvement in the 
condition, but the intervention was found to have had no advantage. Poor overall 
improvement was associated with employment in manual jobs [odds ratio (OR) 3.0,
95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-8.7], a high level of physical strain at work
(OR 8.5, CI 1.0-74.7) and a high level of pain at baseline (OR 2.3, CI 1.0-5.3). 
Pain reduction less than 50% was associated with manual jobs (OR 2.3, CI
1.1-5.1), high physical strain at work (OR 3.6, CI 1.0-12.9), high baseline
distress (OR 1.9, CI 1.0-4.0) and tennis elbow on the dominant side (OR 3.1, CI
1.4-6.8). The intervention group received less treatment and fewer treatment
modalities, but the intervention was not followed by a reduction in the number of
visits to GPs and physiotherapist clinics during 12 months of follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS: Poor prognosis at 1 yr of follow-up for lateral epicondylitis was
related to manual work and high baseline pain, whilst no relation was found
between the type of medical treatment given/chosen and prognosis. This may have
implications for the future management of lateral epicondylitis in terms of a
greater focus on interaction with the workplace regarding job modification to
reduce physical demands during recovery.

PMID: 12810936 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


25. Emerg Infect Dis. 2003 Jun;9(6):708-12.

Community reaction to bioterrorism: prospective study of simulated outbreak.

DiGiovanni C Jr, Reynolds B, Harwell R, Stonecipher EB, Burkle FM Jr.

National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. cdig@july.dgsys.com

To assess community needs for public information during a bioterrorism-related
crisis, we simulated an intentional Rift Valley fever outbreak in a community in 
the southern part of the United States. We videotaped a series of simulated print
and television "news reports" over a fictional 9-day crisis period and invited
various groups (e.g., first-responders and their spouses or partners,
journalists) within the selected community to view the videotape and respond to
questions about their reactions. All responses were given anonymously.
First-responders and their spouses or partners varied in their reactions about
how the crisis affected family harmony and job performance. Local journalists
exhibited considerable personal fear and confusion. All groups demanded, and put 
more trust in, information from local sources. These findings may have
implications for risk communication during bioterrorism-related outbreaks.

PMID: 12781011 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


26. Am J Community Psychol. 2002 Dec;30(6):787-813.

Mental health and welfare transitions: depression and alcohol abuse in AFDC
women.

Dooley D, Prause J.

Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, School of Social Ecology,
University of California, Irvine 92697, USA. cddooley@uci.edu

From a selection perspective, does prior dysfunction select women into welfare or
serve as a barrier to leaving welfare? From a social causation perspective, does 
entering or exiting welfare lead to changes in well being? These questions were
analyzed in panel data for over 3,600 women drawn from the National Longitudinal 
Survey of Youth for the period 1992-94. Welfare is associated with both
depression and alcohol consumption cross-sectionally. This link appears to derive
in small part from selection into welfare by depression (in interaction with
marital status), butdepression and alcohol abuse did not operate as barriers to
leaving welfare. Entering welfare was clearly associated with increased
depression and alcohol consumption, but confidence in an apparent beneficial
effect on alcohol symptoms of leaving welfare for employment was limited by small
sample sizes. These findings are located in the context of the 1996-welfare
reform and the recent economic expansion. One implication is that community
psychology should consider welfare entry as a risk factor similar to adverse
employment changes such as job loss.

PMID: 12385483 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


27. J Am Med Womens Assoc. 2002 Winter;57(1):5-10.

What causes job loss among former welfare recipients: the role of family health
problems.

Earle A, Heymann SJ.

Department of Health and Social Behavior, Harvard School of Public Health, USA.

OBJECTIVE: to test whether women's or children's health status influences the
likelihood that low-income single mothers experience job loss. METHODS: Using a
nationally representative probability sample from the National Longitudinal
Survey of Youth, we estimated whether having a health limitation or having a
child with a health limitation was associated with job loss for a sample of 783
women who had previously been on welfare. RESULTS: Both having a health
limitation (odds ratio [OR]=1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19-1.97) and
having a child with a health limitation (OR=1.36; 95% CI, 1.18-1.56) were
associated with significantly increased risk of job loss among women previously
on welfare. The effects remained significant after adjustment for age, education,
marital status, race, age and number of children, and economic conditions.
CONCLUSIONS: Dramatic changes in welfare policy in the United States have made
many single mothers living in poverty dependent on work as their sole source of
income. Although studies have shown that families on welfare are more likely to
have health limitations, little is known about how family health affects the
ability of poor single mothers to remain employed. These results demonstrate that
women with health limitations and mothers of children with health limitations are
at particularly high risk of losing their jobs. Public and private policies that 
can help reduce job loss as a consequence of family health problems are
discussed.

PMID: 11905494 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


28. J Health Soc Behav. 2000 Dec;41(4):421-36.

Underemployment and depression: longitudinal relationships.

Dooley D, Prause J, Ham-Rowbottom KA.

Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, School of Social Ecology,
University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.

We conceptualize employment status not as a dichotomy of working versus not
working but as a continuum ranging from adequate employment to inadequate
employment (involuntary part-time or low wage) to unemployment. Will shifts from 
adequate to inadequate employment increase depression as do shifts from
employment to unemployment, and to what extent does prior depression select
workers into such adverse employment change? We analyze panel data from the
National Longitudinal Survey of Youth for the years 1992-1994 for the 5,113
respondents who were adequately employed in 1992. Controlling for prior
depression, both types of adverse employment change resulted in similar,
significant increases in depression. These direct effects persisted despite
inclusion of such potential mediators as changes in income, job satisfaction, and
marital status. Marital status buffered the depressive effect of both types of
adverse change, but education and job dissatisfaction amplified the effect of
unemployment on depression. Prior depression did not predict higher risk of
becoming inadequately employed but did predict increased risk of unemployment,
particularly for those with less education. These results confirm that both
unemployment and inadequate employment affect mental health, and they invite
greater efforts to monitor the extent and impact of underemployment.

PMID: 11198566 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


29. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2000 Dec;24(12):1820-9.

US low-risk drinking guidelines: an examination of four alternatives.

Dawson DA.

Division of Biometry and Epidemiology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7003, USA.
ddawson@sillco.niaaa.nih.gov

BACKGROUND: This study compared four sets of US low-risk drinking guidelines (two
interpretations of the US Dietary Guidelines and two variations of the NIAAA
physicians' guidelines) in terms of adherence and how well they predicted five
different alcohol-related outcomes. METHODS: Using data from a nationally
representative sample of 17,542 US adults 21 years of age and over who drank 12
or more drinks in the past year, this study assessed the sensitivity,
specificity, overall accuracy, positive and negative predictive values, and odds 
ratios of the various drinking guidelines (specifically, of having exceeded them 
with different degrees of frequency) as predictors of alcohol dependence,
impaired driving, liver disea