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Gesundheitsstörungen bei Arbeitslosen

Aim: To identify differences in the prevalence of selected disorders in unemployed and employed persons in a population-based health survey. Method: The first nationwide German Health Interview and Examination Survey was carried out between October 1997 and March 1999 and recorded both physical and mental disorders. The analysis encompasses n = 5243 subjects of the core-survey aged 20 to 59 years. Associations between unemployment and disorders stratified by sex and adjusted for age and social status were analyzed by means of logistic regression. Results: 1. Higher disorder frequencies were found in unemployed men than in employed men for bronchial asthma (OR = 2.58), diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.48), arterial hypertension (OR = 1.53), and self-reported mental disorders (OR = 2.52). The association with mental disorders is not restricted to depression but rather encompasses a broad spectrum of mental disorders. 2. Differences between unemployed and employed women were inconsistent and insignificant. 3. Associations between selected risk factors (smoking, high cholesterol, BMI > 30) and unemployment did not reach significance after adjusting for age and socio-economic status. 4. Unemployment was more closely associated with most disorders in Western Germany than in Eastern Germany. Conclusions: Measures to maintain, promote, and restore employability should focus not only on mental disorders of unemployed men but also on respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, and cardiac risk factors. The absence of similar associations for women requires further explanation.