HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

Authors
Citation
A. Hammarstrom, HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT, Public health, 108(6), 1994, pp. 403-412
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath","Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath
Journal title
ISSN journal
00333506
Volume
108
Issue
6
Year of publication
1994
Pages
403 - 412
Database
ISI
SICI code
0033-3506(1994)108:6<403:HCOYU>2.0.ZU;2-N
Abstract
Background: Youth unemployment is of increasing importance, not only a s a social but also as a clinical problem. Methods: A prospective stud y was conducted during a five-year period in a municipality in the nor thern part of Sweden, where the youth unemployment rate was between 6% and 8%. All 1,083 pupils in the last year of compulsory schooling wer e included in the study and 98% of them were followed up after five ye ars. The methods of investigation consisted of comprehensive self-admi nistered questionnaires as well as blood pressure measurements and int erviews with those who had been unemployed. Results: The main results of the study are that there is a greater increase in physical and psyc hological symptoms as well as smoking habits and use of cannabis among long-term unemployed young people than among those not long-term unem ployed. In addition systolic blood pressure, alcohol consumption and c rime rate increase more among long-term unemployed boys than among oth ers. Conclusions: Youth unemployment is associated with increased heal th symptoms, increased systolic blood pressure and a deterioration in health behaviour.