Unemployment increases risk of early death-Study
by Guneet S - April 7, 2011
Canada, 7th April: Unemployment does trigger the risk of premature death, especially amongst men, findings of a latest study by McGill University have revealed.
The study looked at various researches undertaken in the last 40 years in as many as 15 nations involving nearly 20 million people.
As per the researchers, joblessness does increase the health risk by nearly 63 percent. Eran Shor, the lead researcher of the study, said that it has been found that unemployment results in increased stress levels and has a direct effect on the socio-economic status of the concerned person, and this leads to relatively poorer health conditions leading to higher rates of mortality.
In past study on the same topic, it was quite difficult to find whether pre-existing conditions of health like heart problems or diabetes or the habits of drinking, smoking or drug use did result in joblessness and a higher death risk. But, the new research gave quite clear indications, stated Shor, who is also teaching Sociology at McGill University.
Men at higher risk than women—
The study also found that men, rather than the women, were at higher risk after losing their jobs. The incidence of threat among men due to unemployment was found to be 78 percent while in case of unemployed women, the rate of premature dying was just around 37 percent, the research indicated.
The reason for this sharp difference among men and women with regard to premature mortality rate is allegedly due to the fact that men still, continue to the breadwinners of the family.
Hence, for men, losing a job is quite more stressful than it is for their female counterparts, asserted Shor. A family is going to become poorer and see a downfall in several other ways and all this takes a toll on the health of the man.
Thus, a man, after losing his job, is likely to take to higher levels of drinking, smoking or eating and poor access of health-care services as well as healthy nutrition, Shor maintained.
Stress is deadly---
Joblessness leads to higher stress levels and this is very deadly for the mental wellbeing of men, the study finds. The study stated that the risk of premature death is even higher for the jobless and below the age of 50 years.
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