Long-term effects of youth unemployment on alcoholrelated morbidity

• AimTo test if exposure to unemployment in young adulthood is associated with an increased risk of later alcohol‐related morbidity.DesignA nation‐wide register‐linked longitudinal population‐based study.SettingSweden.ParticipantsA total of 16 490 individuals born between 1967 and 1978, who had participated in the Labour Force Survey between the ages of 16–24 years during 1990–95.MeasurementInformation on the outcome of alcohol‐related morbidity was obtained from the National Hospital Discharge Register. The Swedish index of alcohol‐related in‐patient care was used to define the outcome. Information on sex, age and country of birth, as well as parents’ level of education, socio‐economic status and alcohol‐related health problems, were also obtained. Average follow‐up time was 22 years. Cox regression analysis was used to obtain hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).FindingsCompared with full‐time students, individuals who experienced short‐ and long‐term unemployment spells at a young age were at an increased risk of later alcohol‐related morbidity; < 3 months (HR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.35–3.09), 3–6 months (HR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.29–3.75) and > 6 months (HR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.06–3.71) of unemployment, after adjusting for several important individual and family level covariates.ConclusionIn Sweden, a nation‐wide register‐based study with a 22‐year follow‐up suggests that being unemployed in young adulthood is associated with an increased risk of alcohol‐related morbidity later in life.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

alcohol

hospitalization

register-based

Sweden

unemployment

young adults

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)