Employment Status and Health in Young Adults: Economic and Behavioural Mediators?

Abstract

In a sample of young Canadian adults, questionnaire data indicated that both unemployment and selfreported underemployment represent health risks, as defined by subjectively rated health, experienced symptoms and illness measures. While health behaviours, including substance use, diet and exercise, medical compliance and unsafe driving practices contributed independently to health outcomes, they did not explain the linkage between employment status and health. Household income, but not personal income, predicted health and mediated this relationship only in the case of symptoms. The results are discussed in terms of an expanded understanding of the socioeconomic gradient in health.