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Does Job insecurity cause health problem?
"Dramatic
changes in the U.S. labor market have weakened bonds between employers and
employees and fueled perceptions of job insecurity," said University of
Michigan sociologist Sarah Burgard.
The researchers analysed data on more than 1,700 adults, collected over periods from three to 10 years. They interviewed the same people at different points in time to disentangle the connection between poor health and job insecurity, and to control for the impact of actual job loss and other factors.
"It may seem surprising that chronically high job-insecurity is more strongly linked with health declines than actual job loss or unemployment. But there are a number of reasons why this is the case. Ongoing ambiguity about the future, inability to take action unless the feared event actually happens, and the lack of institutionalised supports associated with perceived insecurity are among them," said Burgard.
To measure feelings of job insecurity, participants in one study were asked: "How likely is that during the next couple of years you will involuntarily lose your main job?" Participants in the other study were asked: "If you wanted to stay in your present job, what are the chances you could keep it for the next two years."
It was found that at any given time, as many as 18 percent of those surveyed felt insecure about their jobs. However, only about 5 percent of respondents in the first survey and 3 percent of respondents in the second survey reported feeling anxious about their jobs both times they were interviewed.
The researchers analysed data on more than 1,700 adults, collected over periods from three to 10 years. They interviewed the same people at different points in time to disentangle the connection between poor health and job insecurity, and to control for the impact of actual job loss and other factors.
"It may seem surprising that chronically high job-insecurity is more strongly linked with health declines than actual job loss or unemployment. But there are a number of reasons why this is the case. Ongoing ambiguity about the future, inability to take action unless the feared event actually happens, and the lack of institutionalised supports associated with perceived insecurity are among them," said Burgard.
To measure feelings of job insecurity, participants in one study were asked: "How likely is that during the next couple of years you will involuntarily lose your main job?" Participants in the other study were asked: "If you wanted to stay in your present job, what are the chances you could keep it for the next two years."
It was found that at any given time, as many as 18 percent of those surveyed felt insecure about their jobs. However, only about 5 percent of respondents in the first survey and 3 percent of respondents in the second survey reported feeling anxious about their jobs both times they were interviewed.
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