The impact of occupation on self-rated health: cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence from the health and retirement survey.

TitleThe impact of occupation on self-rated health: cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence from the health and retirement survey.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsGueorguieva, R, Sindelar, JL, Falba, T, Fletcher, JM, Keenan, PS, Wu, R, Gallo, WT
JournalJ Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
Volume64
Issue1
Pagination118-24
Date Published2009 Jan
ISSN Number1758-5368
Call Numbernewpubs20090302_RalitzaJog.pdf
KeywordsAged, Attitude to Health, Cohort Studies, Cross-Sectional Studies, Educational Status, Female, Health Status Indicators, Health Surveys, Humans, Linear Models, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Mortality, Occupations, Odds Ratio, Retirement, Social Class, Socioeconomic factors, United States
Abstract

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to estimate occupational differences in self-rated health, both in cross-section and over time, among older individuals.

METHODS: We use hierarchical linear models to estimate self-reported health as a function of 8 occupational categories and key covariates. We examine self-reported health status over 7 waves (12 years) of the Health and Retirement Study. Our study sample includes 9,586 individuals with 55,389 observations. Longest occupation is used to measure the cumulative impact of occupation, address the potential for reverse causality, and allow the inclusion of all older individuals, including those no longer working.

RESULTS: Significant baseline differences in self-reported health by occupation are found even after accounting for demographics, health habits, economic attributes, and employment characteristics. But contrary to our hypothesis, there is no support for significant differences in slopes of health trajectories even after accounting for dropout.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that occupation-related differences found at baseline are durable and persist as individuals age.

Notes

PMID 19196689

DOI10.1093/geronb/gbn006
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19196689?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

SELF-RATED HEALTH/Occupations

Endnote ID

19760

Alternate JournalJ Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
Citation Key7293
PubMed ID19196689
PubMed Central IDPMC2654983
Grant ListK01 AG021983 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG027045 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States