Working Conditions and Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Self-rated Health

Abstract

Objective The aims of the study are to examine racial and ethnic differences in occupational physical demands, substantive complexity, time pressure, work hours, and establishment size and to assess whether working conditions contribute to racial and ethnic differences in self-rated health. Methods We used 2017 and 2019 Panel Study of Income Dynamics data for 8439 adults. Using path models, we examined working conditions among Black, Latino, and White workers and explored whether those conditions mediated racial and ethnic differences in incident poor self-rated health. Results Some working conditions disproportionately affected Black workers (high physical demands, low substantive complexity), Latino workers (low substantive complexity, small establishments), and White workers (time pressure). Time pressure predicted worse self-rated health; there was no evidence that the working conditions studied mediated racial/ethnic differences. Conclusions Working conditions vary by racial and ethnic group; some predict worse health.