title: Job insecurity as a risk factor for common infections and health complaints.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal effect of job insecurity on common infections and health complaints. Self-administered questionnaire data from the Maastricht Cohort Study (n = 12, 140) were used. We used Generalized Estimating Equations analyses to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals. A cross-sectional relationship between job insecurity and common infections or health complaints was found. For the longitudinal relationship, the largest effect was found for flu-like illness (OR 1.39; CI = 1.22-1.57) and health complaints (OR 1.51; CI = 1.39-1.64). We additionally corrected for health behavior, the presence of a long-standing illness, and work-related demands, resulting in lower ORs. An increase in common infections or health complaints has a substantial impact on employee well-being and may result in economic consequences for the company.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. dcl.mohren@epid.unimaas.nl
authors.forename: Danielle C L
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Mohren
authors.forename: Gerard M H
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Swaen
authors.forename: Ludovic G P M
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: van Amelsvoort
authors.forename: Paul J A
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Borm
authors.forename: Jochem M D
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Galama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D016526:Workload