Characteristics of those most vulnerable to employment changes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationally representative cross-sectional study in Wales

Gray, Benjamin J; Kyle, Richard G.; Song, Jiahui; Davies, Alisha R

doi:10.1136/jech-2020-216030

Cited by 29 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(19 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“… 15 Specifically, younger people are more likely to be affected by disruption in their education at a critical time and in the long-term most are at risk of poor employment and the associated health outcomes in economic downturn. 16 Also, individuals who already struggled to cover their basic financial needs, were significantly more likely to be placed on ‘Furlough’ during the pandemic, 17 further increasing their financial concerns and risk for non-compliance to COVID-19 restrictions. Due to these concerns, these low-income groups (those who earn <£20 000 a year or had <£100 saved), report three times lower ability to self-isolate than their more wealthy counterparts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges to self-isolation among contacts of cases of COVID-19: a national telephone survey in Wales

Isherwood¹,

Kyle

Gray

et al. 2022

Journal of Public Health

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Self-isolation is challenging and adherence is dependent on a range of psychological, social and economic factors. We aimed to identify the challenges experienced by contacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases to better target support and minimize the harms of self-isolation. Methods The Contact Adherence Behavioural Insights Study (CABINS) was a 15-minute telephone survey conducted with confirmed contacts of COVID-19 (N = 2027), identified through the NHS Wales Test Trace Protect (TTP) database. Results Younger people (aged 18–29 years) were three times more likely to report mental health concerns (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 3.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.05–4.86) and two times more likely to report loneliness (aOR: 1.96, CI: 1.37–2.81) compared to people aged over 60 years. Women were 1.5 times more likely to experience mental health concerns (aOR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.20–1.92) compared to men. People with high levels of income precarity were eight times more likely to report financial challenges (aOR: 7.73, CI: 5.10–11.74) and three times more likely to report mental health concerns than their more financially secure counterparts (aOR: 3.08, CI: 2.22–4.28). Conclusion Self-isolation is particularly challenging for younger people, women and those with precarious incomes. Providing enhanced support is required to minimize the harms of self-isolation.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges to self-isolation among contacts of cases of COVID-19: a national telephone survey in Wales

Isherwood¹,

Kyle

Gray

et al. 2022

Journal of Public Health

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A total of 1,382 adults responded at T1 (6.9% response rate), with 1,019 being from within the main sample (7.0% response rate), and 273 from the booster sample (5.5% response rate). Full details of the initial recruitment and sampling strategy are discussed elsewhere (Gray et al, 2021). Of the 1,382 adults who responded to the initial survey at T1, 1,084 individuals gave permission to be contacted for a follow up study.…”

Section: Study Population and Recruitmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the inaccessibility of home-working translates to increased exposure to the virus if remaining in-work, or financial insecurity if the work cannot continue e.g. being placed on furlough or becoming unemployed (Dyakova et al 2021;Gray et al 2021). Our findings corroborate those of others, showing that those living in the most deprived areas (who are also most likely to be digitally excluded (Welsh Government 2019)), those in atypical employment and those with high wage precarity are less likely to be able to work from home (Dingel and Neiman 2020;Williams et al 2020).…”

Section: Addressing Inequalities In Home Workingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the health impacts and inequalities of the new way of working: findings from a cross-sectional study

Griffiths

Gray

Kyle

et al. 2022

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aim To explore the working Welsh adult population's ability to work from home, their preferences for the future, and the self-reported health impacts of home-working. Subject and Method: A nationally-representative household survey was undertaken across Wales (Public Health Wales' COVID-19, Employment and Health in Wales study), with cross-sectional data on home-working being collected between November 2020 and January 2021 from 615 employed working-aged adults in Wales (63.7% female, 32.7% aged 50-59). Respondents were asked about their ability to work from home, their perceptions of its impact on their health and their preferences for time spent home-working in future. Results Over 50% were able to work from home, and showed a preference towards home-working to some capacity, with over a third wishing to work from home at least half the time. However, those living in the most deprived areas, in atypical employment, with high wage precarity or with limiting pre-existing conditions were less likely to report being able to work from home. Of those that could work from home, over 40% reported that it worsened their mental well-being and loneliness, and for people in poorer health, home-working negatively impacted their diet, physical activity, smoking and alcohol use. People aged 30 to 39 and those who lived alone were more likely to report wanting to spend some time working in an office/base instead of at home. Conclusion The inequity in the ability to work from home reflects underlying inequalities in Wales, with those facing the greatest insecurity (e.g. those living in most deprived areas, those with more precarious work or financial circumstances) being less able to participate in home-working. Working from home offers greater flexibility, reduces the financial and time costs associated with commuting, and protects individuals from exposure to communicable diseases. However, working from home presents an enormous challenge to preserving the mental-wellbeing of the workforce, particularly for younger individuals and those with low mental well-being. Younger respondents and those in poorer health who could work from home were also more likely to engage in health-harming behaviours, and reduce their engagement in health-protective behaviours such as eating well and moving more. Reflecting on the future, providing pathways for accessing work from home arrangements, integrating hybrid models and preparing targeted health support for at risk groups may be best suited to the working population's preferences and needs.

show abstract

“…However, our findings highlight the importance of directing support to these groups during initial conversations with contact tracers. For example, as young people are more likely to be employed through the expanding gig economy, and have no access to sick pay, stable work contracts or the 'furlough' scheme [24] , it is important to consider support mechanisms so that these individuals do not fall through the cracks. A large multi-agency response is needed to deal with the wide range of needs identified in our study.…”

Section: Challenges Faced To Self-isolation By Young Peoplementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated existing health inequalities, disproportionately impacting those who are in low-skilled employment, of younger age or have underlying health conditions [23] . Moreover, individuals who already struggled to cover their basic financial needs, were also significantly more likely to be placed on 'Furlough' during the pandemic [24] , further increasing their financial concerns and risk for non-compliance to COVID-19 restrictions. Importantly, these same groups who experience economic vulnerability are least likely to adhere to the behavioural and social interventions used to control the spread of COVID-19, such as social distancing and frequent hand washing [25][26] .…”

Section: The Impact Of the Covid-19 Pandemic On Those On Low Incomesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges to self-isolation among contacts of cases of COVID-19: a national telephone survey in Wales

Isherwood¹,

Kyle²,

Gray³

et al. 2021

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives: To identify the specific challenges of self-isolation experienced by population sub-groups to better target and tailor support. Design: The Contact Adherence Behavioural Insights Study (CABINS) was a 15-minute telephone survey of confirmed contacts of cases of COVID-19 identified through the national NHS Wales Test Trace Protect (TTP) database. Methods: Confirmed contacts of cases of COVID-19 reached by TTP completed a 15-minute telephone survey (N = 2,027). Binary logistic regression models adjusted for age, gender, living alone, survey round, deprivation quintile (defined by the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation) and income precarity (financial security) determined which population sub-groups were more likely to experience challenges during self-isolation. Results: Younger people (aged 18-29 years) were 3 times more likely to report mental health concerns (Adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]: 3.16, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 2.05-4.86) and 2 times more likely to report loneliness (aOR: 1.96, CI: 1.37-2.81) compared to people aged over 60 years. Women were 1.5 times more likely to experience mental health concerns (aOR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.20-1.92) compared to men. People with high/very high levels of income precarity were 8 times more likely to report financial challenges (aOR: 7.73, CI: 5.10-11.74) and 3 times more likely to report mental health concerns than their more financially secure counterparts (aOR: 3.08, CI: 2.22-4.28). Conclusions: Self-isolation is particularly challenging for those with younger people, women and precarious incomes. Providing enhanced emotional, financial and social support and signposting to these groups is required to minimise the harms of self-isolation.

show abstract

Characteristics of those most vulnerable to employment changes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationally representative cross-sectional study in Wales

Cited by 29 publications

References 28 publications

Challenges to self-isolation among contacts of cases of COVID-19: a national telephone survey in Wales

Challenges to self-isolation among contacts of cases of COVID-19: a national telephone survey in Wales

Exploring the health impacts and inequalities of the new way of working: findings from a cross-sectional study

Challenges to self-isolation among contacts of cases of COVID-19: a national telephone survey in Wales

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About