Exploring the Relationship Between Self-Employment and Health Among Blacks

Abstract

There is some evidence that self-employment may improve measures of cardiovascular and general health among the general population; however, no studies have examined this relationship among Non-Hispanic Blacks (NHBs). Studying the health implications of self-employment among NHBs is important because of the disparities that persist in both cardiovascular health and self-employment rates between NHBs and other racial/ethnic subgroups. Methods: A pooled cross-sectional analysis of data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2000 to 2014) was used to explore the association between self-employment and the following self-reported outcomes: ''no exercise,'' fruit consumption, vegetable consumption, days of alcohol consumption, fair or poor health, hypertension, poor mental health days, and poor physical health days among the total population of NHBs and across gender/income subgroups. Results: We find favorable associations between self-employment and several measures of cardiovascular health (increased fruit and vegetable consumption, reduced reports of ''no exercise,'' and reduced reports of hypertension) and positive associations between self-employment, poor mental health days, and days of alcohol consumption among the total population. The nature of these associations varies across gender/ income subgroup. Conclusions: Given the disparities between racial/ethnic subgroups with respect to adverse cardiovascular outcomes and the well-documented roles of exercise and blood pressure control in limiting cardiovascular disease, it is important to probe the relationship between self-employment and health among NHBs further.

Exploring the relationship between self-employment and women’s cardiovascular health

“…However, unlike Yoon and Bernell we only find an insignificant negative trend between self-employment and hyperlipidemia [ 11 ]. Our findings are also consistent with the work of Narain and Jeffers, who found an association between self-employment and reduced reports of hypertension and “no exercise” among black women [ 12 ].…”

“…Studies that employ mental health measures assessed within a timeframe on the scale of days or weeks may yield more information [ 20 ]. Narain and Jeffers found positive mental health outcomes for self-employed black women when using “number of self-reported poor mental health days in the last 30 days” as a mental health measure [ 12 ].…”

“…Health behaviors of interest were participation in at least twice-weekly physical activity, binge drinking, and smoking. Determination of health status was based on the survey question, “Would you say your health is excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor?” Respondents who answered “fair” or “poor” were categorized as being in poor health; all other respondents were considered not to be in poor health [ 12 ]. BMI and obesity were calculated using self-reported weight and height data.…”

“…A 2013 study found that, compared to salary work, self-employment was positively associated with perceived physical health and negatively associated with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and stroke [ 11 ]. Self-employment has also been linked to reduced reports of “no exercise” and increased fruit and vegetable consumption among black women [ 12 ]. The relationship between self-employment and mental health is less well-studied, and available data are inconsistent [ 11 , 12 ].…”

“…Self-employment has also been linked to reduced reports of “no exercise” and increased fruit and vegetable consumption among black women [ 12 ]. The relationship between self-employment and mental health is less well-studied, and available data are inconsistent [ 11 , 12 ].…”