Mental illness, nativity, gender and labor supply.
We analyzed the impacts of nativity and mental health (MH) on work by gender for non-elderly adults using the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. We employed two indicators of MH - the K6 scale of Mental Illness (MI) and an indicator for symptoms of Mania or Delusions (M/D). Instrumental variable (IV) models used measures of social support as instruments for MI. Unadjusted work rates were higher for immigrants (vs US-born adults). Regressions show that MI is associated with lower rates of work among US-born males but not immigrant males and females; M/D is associated lower rates of work among US-born males and females, and among immigrant males. Results did not change using IV models for MI. Most persons with MI work, yet symptom severity reduces labor supply among natives especially. Immigrants' labor supply is less affected by MI.
Division of Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, Institute of the Americas, 10111 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92093-0507, USA. vojeda@ucsd.edu
Victoria D
VD
Ojeda
Richard G
RG
Frank
Thomas G
TG
McGuire
Todd P
TP
Gilmer
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult