Recessions, job loss, and mortality among older us adults

C. Noelke and J. Beckfield

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 11, e126-e134

Abstract: Objectives. We analyzed how recessions and job loss jointly shape mortality risks among older US adults. Methods. We used data for 50 states fromthe Health and Retirement Study and selected individuals who were employed at ages 45 to 66 years during 1992 to 2011. We assessed whether job loss affects mortality risks, whether recessions moderate the effect of job loss on mortality, and whether individuals who do and do not experience job loss are differentially affected by recessions. Results. Compared with individuals not experiencing job loss, mortality risks among individuals losing their job in a recession were strongly elevated (hazard ratio = 1.6; 95% confidence interval = 1.1, 2.3). Job loss during normal times or booms is not associated with mortality. For employed workers, we found a reduction in mortality risks if local labor market conditions were depressed, but this result was not consistent across different model specifications. Conclusions. Recessions increase mortality risks among older US adults who experience job loss. Health professionals and policymakers should target resources to this group during recessions. Future research should clarify which health conditions are affected by job loss during recessions andwhether access to health care following job loss moderates this relation. © 2014, American Public Health Association Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords: aged; economic recession; epidemiology; female; human; male; middle aged; mortality; risk factor; statistics and numerical data; unemployment; United States, Aged; Economic Recession; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality; Risk Factors; Unemployment; United States (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.302210_2

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302210

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