[Health behaviour and health-risk behaviour among job-seekers: a screening at an employment agency].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution of health behaviours and health-risk behaviours among three groups of job-seeking persons at employment agencies: short-term unemployed, long-term unemployed, and non-unemployed (e.g., threatened by job loss) persons. A related aim was to identify the general willingness of persons recruited at employment agencies to participate in a study regarding health behaviours.


METHODS
At the employment agency Greifswald (Western Pomerania, Germany), over a period of two weeks, all job-seeking persons while waiting were personally asked to participate in a screening regarding health behaviours.


RESULTS
A total of 1672 persons (M=34 years, 54% women), that is 74.3% of all job-seekers, participated in the screening. Regarding physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, smoking, at-risk drinking, drug use and overweight, all three groups showed a lack of health behaviour and increased risky behaviour compared to the general population or nation-wide guidelines. ANOVAs, chi (2) tests and logistic regressions showed significant differences among the three groups. Non-unemployed persons were more likely to report a healthier life style compared to both unemployed groups. Long-term unemployed persons had a higher risk of smoking (OR=1.56; CI 95%=1.14-2.12) and of using drugs (OR=2.79; CI 95%=1.30-5.98) compared to short-term unemployed persons.


CONCLUSIONS
The high participation rate, along with the high rates of risky behaviour and lack of health behaviour indicate the demand for intervention programs for job-seekers and the opportunity of using this setting for proactive interventions that could reach more than 70% of all job-seekers.
Pockrandt
C
C
Institut für Epidemiologie und Sozialmedizin, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald, Greifswald.
Coder
B
B
Lau
K
K
Hartmann
B
B
John
U
U
Freyer-Adam
J
J
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007586:Job Application; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014478:Unemployment