title: Predictors and consequences of unemployment among construction workers: prospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study predictors and consequences of unemployment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  11 construction companies in southern Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  586 male employees, aged 40-59 years at baseline in 1991 and not retired during a 4 year follow up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Long term unemployment, stress symptoms, disease, alcohol consumption, exercise activity, and body mass index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a multiple logistic regression model, long term unemployment (>24 months v </=24 months) was predicted by age 50-54 years v 40-44 years (odds ratio 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 3.7), </=3 years' employment in the present job (3.1, 1.9 to 5.1), previous unemployment (2.1, 1.2 to 3.8), being single (1.8, 1.1 to 3. 1), current smoking (2.6, 1.4 to 4.7), high alcohol consumption (2.1, 1.1 to 4.3), body mass index <23 kg/m(2 )v 23-29 kg/m(2 )(2.4, 1.3 to 4.4), frequent stress symptoms (2.0, 1.2 to 3.2), mental disorders (7.8, 1.5 to 40.0), and skin diseases (2.0, 1.0 to 3.9). Workers who were unemployed long term reported increased stress (2.1, 1.2 to 3.5) but fewer incident diseases (0.6, 0.4 to 0.9), decreased alcohol consumption (2.9, 1.6 to 5.2), increased exercise (1.9, 1.2 to 3.0), and increased body mass index (2.3, 1.3 to 4.0) compared with the rest of the cohort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The workers' perceptions of work did not predict unemployment. Health based selection to long term unemployment was shown. Smoking and high alcohol consumption predated unemployment, but favourable lifestyle changes were observed among the unemployed workers. Stress predicted unemployment, which further increased the stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, FIN-00250 Helsinki, Finland. plei@occuphealth.fi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leino-Arjas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liira
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mutanen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malmivaara
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matikainen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*