Job Insecurity, Mental Health, and General Health Over Time

Abstract

Objective The aim of the study is to test the relationship between different conceptualizations of job insecurity and health over time by applying a longitudinal design. Methods 543 workers were reinterviewed after 1 year to check if being exposed to job insecurity affected their general and mental health. Robust Poisson regressions were fitted to calculate the incidence rate ratio between job insecurities and two health outcomes. Results Cognitive job loss insecurity increases the risk of poor mental and general health. Other expressions of job insecurity such as labor market insecurity and working conditions insecurity, as well as affective job insecurity, are not significantly related to health across time. Conclusions Caution is needed when interpreting cross-sectional results. Protection against the threat of losing a job would prevent mental health issues and poor general health.