Labour-Market Characteristics and Self-Rated Health: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

Abstract

In the face of labour-force ageing, understanding labour-market characteristics and the health status of middle-aged and older workers is important for sustainable social and economic development. Self-rated health (SRH) is a widely-used instrument to detect health problems and predict mortality. This study investigated labour-market characteristics that may have an impact on the SRH among Chinese middle-aged and older workers, using data from the national baseline wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. The analytical sample included 3864 individuals who at the time held at least one non-agricultural job. Fourteen labour-market characteristics were clearly defined and investigated. Multiple logistic regression models of the associations of each labour-market characteristic with SRH were estimated. Seven labour-market characteristics were associated with higher odds of poor SRH when controlled for age and sex. Employment status and earned income remained significantly associated with poor SRH, when controlling for all the sociodemographic factors and health behaviours. Doing unpaid work in family businesses is associated with 2.07 (95% CI, 1.51–2.84) times probability of poor SRH, compared with employed individuals. Compared with more affluent individuals (highest quintile of earned income), people in the fourth and fifth quintiles had 1.92 (95% CI, 1.29–2.86) times and 2.72 (95% CI, 1.83–4.02) times higher chance, respectively, of poor SRH. In addition, residence type and region were important confounders. Measures improving adverse working conditions should be taken to prevent future risk of impaired health among the Chinese middle-aged and older workforce.

Adherence Behaviors and Related Factors Among Elderly Hypertensive Patients in China: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

“…31 Previous studies have proven that the CHARLS survey can provide long-term follow-up of respondents, obtain a large amount of personal health information, and cover a wide range of topics, which has been widely used. [32][33][34] In this study, we included participants aged 60 years and older with physician-diagnosed and self-reported hypertension. After completing the missing information on adherent behavior, 5175 samples were finally included.…”