Does the association between ill health and unemployment differ between young people and adults? Results from a 14-year follow-up study with a focus on psychological health and smoking

Objectives. Research has given a comprehensive picture of the negative health consequences of unemployment without offering sufficient comparison between different age groups. The aim of this study was to analyse whether the associations between ill health, particularly poor psychological health and smoking, and unemployment differ between young and adult men and women. Study design. A 14-year follow-up study of graduates of compulsory school in an industrial town in northern Sweden was undertaken. The subjects were analysed at ages 16, 21 and 30 years. Complete data on the cohort were collected for 1044 individuals with the aid of a comprehensive questionnaire. The response rate was 96.4%. Methods. The main health measurements used in this study were poor psychological health and smoking, analysed by multivariate logistic regression. Results. After controlling for several background variables, associations between long-term unemployment and poor psychological health were found in young men and women, and adult men. Long-term unemployment was only associated with smoking in young people. Conclusions. The association between long-term unemployment and psychological health, as well as smoking, seemed to be stronger in young people than adults.