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Birthweight and work participation in adulthood.
Petter Kristensen1, Tor Bjerkedal, Lorentz M Irgens
1National Institute of Occupational Health, PO Box 8149, 0033 Oslo, Norway. petter.kristensen@stami.no
International Journal of Epidemiology
|May 29, 2004
Summary
Lower birthweight is linked to higher unemployment risk in adulthood, independent of social background or early disease. This association persists even within the normal birthweight range, highlighting birthweight as a factor in adult work participation.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Sociology
Background:
- Birthweight is linked to cognitive function and education, but its association with adult work participation is less clear.
- Investigating the influence of family background and early disease on the birthweight-work participation relationship is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between birthweight and adult unemployment.
- To determine the extent to which family background and early disease influence this association.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal, population-based cohort study using linked national registers.
- Included 308,829 singletons born in Norway (1967-1971), followed to age 29.
- Unemployment defined as lack of personal income at age 29, excluding those in education.
Main Results:
- Lower birthweight was associated with increased unemployment risk for both men and women, even after adjusting for confounders.
- This association was observed regardless of social disadvantage or childhood disease.
- Social disadvantage had a larger attributable fraction for unemployment risk than birthweight.
Conclusions:
- Lower birthweight is an independent predictor of unemployment at age 29.
- The association between birthweight and unemployment exists even within the normal birthweight range.