Socioeconomic Status, Occupational Disease, and Psychological Well-Being: Evidence from People with Pneumoconiosis in China

Abstract

Background: Pneumoconiosis is one of the most prevalent occupational diseases in China. The present study aims to examine the status, needs, and challenges of people with pneumoconiosis from a socioeconomic perspective and to reveal the mechanisms by which the disease is linked to their psychological well-being. This study also examines the association of the social security subsidy to such mechanism. Methods: A questionnaire survey of 1134 respondents from seven cities or districts in China was conducted from 2014 to 2016. Generalized Structural Equation Modeling (GSEM) was employed to complete the analysis using Stata 16. Results: Respondents with poor socioeconomic status engaged longer in dusty work and had higher stages of pneumoconiosis, complications, and aggravation. These, in turn, were linked to their socioeconomic status due to high treatment expenditure and loss of the ability to work, which were negatively associated with their psychological well-being. Social security assistance and subsidies could help improve their socioeconomic status. Conclusions: This study provides evidence for the mechanism of social factors linking to physical health and further to psychological well-being among people with pneumoconiosis. Social security assistance and subsidies should be urgently provided for them to improve their socioeconomic status and their psychological well-being.

Occupational survey-based evidence of health status and welfare problems of workers with pneumoconiosis in China

“…By investigating the socioeconomic status, clinical characteristics of pneumoconiosis, follow-up treatment and rehabilitation, economic burden, and social protection status of patients with pneumoconiosis, our study revealed that these patients may have psychological well-being problems, which is an issue that has been neglected in recent studies ( 33 ). This suggests that we should pay more attention not only to pneumoconiosis from a social and economic perspective but also from the psychological well-being perspective, as the disease substantially affects patients’ and their families’ quality of life.…”

Experimental and numerical evaluation of the dust suppression efficiency of an innovative vortex pneumatic fog screen dust control device

“…By the year 2020, China reported 904,000 cases of occupational pneumoconiosis, with Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis (CWP) is accounting for more than 50% of these cases. Alarmingly, the fatality rate for CWP stands at approximately 2000 deaths annually, surpassing the number of fatalities from coal mine safety accidents 16 – 18 . The primary factor behind this high prevalence of mine pneumoconiosis cases is the inadequate attention given to occupational pneumoconiosis in coal and other enterprises, along with the ineffectiveness in controlling respirable dust emissions during coal mine production 19 – 21 .…”