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Problems with cross-sectional data in research on working environment and health
1Department of Social Medicine, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Scandinavian Journal of Social Medicine
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Occupational turnover can bias health studies by masking effects. This study found significant health outcome differences between stable workers and job changers, especially with physical work strain.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Epidemiology
- Sociology
Background:
- Occupational turnover, driven by health selection, can introduce bias in cross-sectional studies.
- This bias may mask true occupational health effects by misattributing disease to irrelevant work environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in long-term illness (morbidity) between stable workers and those who change occupations.
- To assess if occupational mobility influences health outcomes in relation to physical work demands.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study analyzing morbidity in relation to occupational history.
- Data collected from 10,487 men and 10,058 women (25-74 years) via the Statistics Sweden Survey of Living Conditions (1977, 1979-81).
- Health outcomes compared between 'stable' workers and 'changers' across four physical exposure levels.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in health outcomes were observed between stable workers and job changers.
- These differences were particularly pronounced when considering the level of physical strain associated with work.
- Morbidity varied considerably based on occupational stability and physical demands.
Conclusions:
- Occupational turnover significantly impacts health outcomes, potentially masking real occupational health effects.
- Detailed occupational histories are crucial for accurate cross-sectional health studies, especially when comparing occupations with varying turnover rates.
- Future research should account for occupational mobility to avoid bias in health effect assessments.