The Health of Young US Workers

• Published in: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine Vol. 56; no. 10; pp. 1011 - 1018
• Main Authors: Ocasio, Manuel A., Fleming, Lora E., Hollenbeck, Julie, Fernandez, Cristina A., LeBlanc, William G., Lin, Jenelle, Martinez, Alberto J. Caban, Kachan, Diana, Christ, Sharon L., Sestito, John P., Lee, David J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a business of Wolters Kluwer Health 01-10-2014; Copyright by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Ovid Technologies
• Subjects: Adolescent; Female; Health; Health behavior; Health Status; Health Surveys; Humans; Male; Medical personnel; Occupational Health; Occupations - statistics & numerical data; Original Article; Risk Factors; United States; Young Adult; Young adults; United States; United States > US
• ISSN: 1076-2752; 1536-5948
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000256

OBJECTIVES:To provide an overview of the health status of young US workers across four domainsfunctional health, physical and psychological health, health behavior, and health care utilization.
METHODS:Pooled data from the 2004 to 2010 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed for 11,279 US workers aged 18 to 24 years, representing an estimated 16.9 million workers annually. Thirty-nine health indicators were examined and compared across nine occupational groups.
RESULTS:Compared with other occupational groups, craft workers and laborers and helpers had the highest prevalence of risky health behaviors, including current smoking and risky drinking, as well as fewer reported visits to a primary care physician in the past year.
CONCLUSIONS:Young workers engage in risky health behaviors, and may benefit from targeted workplace interventions to mitigate the potentially negative long-term effects on health and well-being.