DOES EMPLOYMENT STATUS ASSOCIATE WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH STATUS? A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY ON WORKING-AGE POPULATION

AIM:The study aims to investigate the implication of employment status on individuals' mental and physical health status in Bangladesh.METHOD:Administering a semi-structured interview schedule, data were collected from 320 participants applying the multi-stage random sampling technique from the metropolitan area of Khulna city. An unpaired t-test was executed to observe the comparative scenario of mental health and socio-demographic conditions of different health-bearing classes. Also, logistic regression and the OLS model were executed to assess the association between employment status and physical and mental health status. BMI and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21 (DASS-21) were applied to measure the physical and mental health status, respectively.RESULTS:Results revealed that employed individuals were more exposed to physical and mental health disorders compared to unemployed individuals. The employed individuals were at higher risk of being unhealthy, and suffering from back pain and sickness than the unemployed individuals. Results suggested that the employed individuals were expected to get involved more in mental health risk behavior (0.766, p <0.01); however, they possessed a lower extent of anxiety (-0.532, p <0.05).RECOMMENDATIONS:Insurance coverage, motivational programs, change in lifestyle and workplace environment development can be initiated from both employer and government levels for better health outcomes.