title: Increasing health inequalities between women in and out of work--the impact of recession or policy change? A repeated cross-sectional study in Stockholm county, 2006 and 2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The social insurance system in Sweden underwent extensive change between 2006 and 2010, with the overall aim of making people enter the labour market. At the same time, economic recession hit Sweden. Previous studies suggest that the economic recession particularly affected women. In light of these changes, the aim of this study is to investigate whether health inequalities between employed women and groups outside the labour market changed between 2006 and 2010. A second aim is to examine the explanatory weight of socio-demographic factors vs social and economic conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data consists of the Stockholm Public Health Surveys (SPHS) for 2006 and 2010. Women aged 18-64 were studied. Through logistic regression, levels of mental distress and limiting longstanding illness (LLI), were compared between four labour market groups; employed and unemployed, sickness absentees and disability pension recipients, at the two time points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mental distress increased among women in all four labour market groups between 2006 and 2010. Differences in mental distress between those employed and groups outside the labour market also increased. These were explained primarily by social and economic conditions. Levels of LLI were unchanged except among the unemployed. The difference in LLI between the unemployed and the employed was mostly explained by social and economic conditions. In the other groups socio-demographic factors were more salient. For both health outcomes, the weight of social and economic conditions had increased in 2010 compared to 2006.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicate that levels of mental distress increased in all groups, but more so among groups outside the labour market, possibly due to stricter eligibility criteria and lower benefit levels, which particularly affected their social and economic conditions.
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Blomqvist
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Burström
authors: Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. mona.backhans@ki.se.
authors: Mona C
authors: MC
authors: Backhans
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D057172:Economic Recession; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012943:Social Security / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult