Multidimensional employment trajectories and dynamic links with mental health: Evidence from the UK Household Longitudinal Study
OBJECTIVES: Low-quality and precarious employment have been associated with adverse mental health and wellbeing. More evidence is needed on how the quality of employment trajectories – including transitions in and out of unemployment, inactivity, and employment of varying quality – are associated wi...
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| Formaat: | Artikel |
| Taal: | English |
| Gepubliceerd in: |
Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)
2025-01-01
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| Reeks: | Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health |
| Onderwerpen: | |
| Online toegang: |
https://www.sjweh.fi/article/4193
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| _version_ | 1826913025262616576 |
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| author | Rebeka Balogh Sylvie Gadeyne Christophe Vanroelen Chris Warhurst |
| author_facet | Rebeka Balogh Sylvie Gadeyne Christophe Vanroelen Chris Warhurst |
| author_sort | Rebeka Balogh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | OBJECTIVES: Low-quality and precarious employment have been associated with adverse mental health and wellbeing. More evidence is needed on how the quality of employment trajectories – including transitions in and out of unemployment, inactivity, and employment of varying quality – are associated with individuals’ mental health over time. This paper aimed to derive a typology of multidimensional employment trajectories and assess associations with mental health in the UK. METHODS: Data from waves 1–9 of the UK Household Longitudinal Study were used (2009–2019). Individuals aged 30–40 at baseline were included (N=1603). Using multichannel sequence and clustering analyses, we derived a typology of employment trajectories across employment statuses and four employment quality indicators. We assessed associations with subsequent psychological distress, accounting for baseline mental health. Changes in average General Health Questionnaire scores are described. RESULTS: A typology of five trajectory clusters highlighted stable and secure and precarious/low-quality trajectories for both men and women. Women who reported being economically inactive at most waves had higher odds of experiencing psychological distress than did women in ‘standard’ trajectories, regardless of baseline mental health. Women’s scores of psychological distress in the ‘precarious’ group on average increased along their trajectories characterized by instability and transitions in/out of unemployment, before a move into employment. Men who likely moved in and out of unemployment and economic inactivity, with low probability of paid employment, reported increased psychological distress at the end of follow-up. This may partly be due to pre-existing mental ill-health. CONCLUSION: This paper shows the importance of high-quality employment for individuals’ mental health over time. Researchers need to consider dynamic associations between employment quality and mental health across the life-course. |
| first_indexed | 2025-02-17T10:38:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7d901b14f0f2455da3a97079b4144790 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0355-3140 1795-990X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-17T10:38:36Z |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-7d901b14f0f2455da3a97079b41447902024-12-30T09:31:07ZengNordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health0355-31401795-990X2025-01-01511263710.5271/sjweh.41934193Multidimensional employment trajectories and dynamic links with mental health: Evidence from the UK Household Longitudinal StudyRebeka Balogh0Sylvie Gadeyne1Christophe Vanroelen2Chris Warhurst3School of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TB, United Kingdom.School of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TB, United Kingdom.School of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TB, United Kingdom.School of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TB, United Kingdom.OBJECTIVES: Low-quality and precarious employment have been associated with adverse mental health and wellbeing. More evidence is needed on how the quality of employment trajectories – including transitions in and out of unemployment, inactivity, and employment of varying quality – are associated with individuals’ mental health over time. This paper aimed to derive a typology of multidimensional employment trajectories and assess associations with mental health in the UK. METHODS: Data from waves 1–9 of the UK Household Longitudinal Study were used (2009–2019). Individuals aged 30–40 at baseline were included (N=1603). Using multichannel sequence and clustering analyses, we derived a typology of employment trajectories across employment statuses and four employment quality indicators. We assessed associations with subsequent psychological distress, accounting for baseline mental health. Changes in average General Health Questionnaire scores are described. RESULTS: A typology of five trajectory clusters highlighted stable and secure and precarious/low-quality trajectories for both men and women. Women who reported being economically inactive at most waves had higher odds of experiencing psychological distress than did women in ‘standard’ trajectories, regardless of baseline mental health. Women’s scores of psychological distress in the ‘precarious’ group on average increased along their trajectories characterized by instability and transitions in/out of unemployment, before a move into employment. Men who likely moved in and out of unemployment and economic inactivity, with low probability of paid employment, reported increased psychological distress at the end of follow-up. This may partly be due to pre-existing mental ill-health. CONCLUSION: This paper shows the importance of high-quality employment for individuals’ mental health over time. Researchers need to consider dynamic associations between employment quality and mental health across the life-course. https://www.sjweh.fi/article/4193 mental healthprecarious employmentjob qualitysequence analysisemployment trajectoryemployment qualityuk household longitudinal study |
| spellingShingle | Rebeka Balogh Sylvie Gadeyne Christophe Vanroelen Chris Warhurst Multidimensional employment trajectories and dynamic links with mental health: Evidence from the UK Household Longitudinal Study Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health mental health precarious employment job quality sequence analysis employment trajectory employment quality uk household longitudinal study |
| title | Multidimensional employment trajectories and dynamic links with mental health: Evidence from the UK Household Longitudinal Study |
| title_full | Multidimensional employment trajectories and dynamic links with mental health: Evidence from the UK Household Longitudinal Study |
| title_fullStr | Multidimensional employment trajectories and dynamic links with mental health: Evidence from the UK Household Longitudinal Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multidimensional employment trajectories and dynamic links with mental health: Evidence from the UK Household Longitudinal Study |
| title_short | Multidimensional employment trajectories and dynamic links with mental health: Evidence from the UK Household Longitudinal Study |
| title_sort | multidimensional employment trajectories and dynamic links with mental health evidence from the uk household longitudinal study |
| topic | mental health precarious employment job quality sequence analysis employment trajectory employment quality uk household longitudinal study |
| url |
https://www.sjweh.fi/article/4193
|
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rebekabalogh multidimensionalemploymenttrajectoriesanddynamiclinkswithmentalhealthevidencefromtheukhouseholdlongitudinalstudy AT sylviegadeyne multidimensionalemploymenttrajectoriesanddynamiclinkswithmentalhealthevidencefromtheukhouseholdlongitudinalstudy AT christophevanroelen multidimensionalemploymenttrajectoriesanddynamiclinkswithmentalhealthevidencefromtheukhouseholdlongitudinalstudy AT chriswarhurst multidimensionalemploymenttrajectoriesanddynamiclinkswithmentalhealthevidencefromtheukhouseholdlongitudinalstudy |