UNEMPLOYMENT, CIGARETTE-SMOKING, ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION AND BODY-WEIGHT IN YOUNG BRITISH MEN

The relationship of unemployment experienced between the ages of 16 an d 33 years with smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity was examined in 2,887 men who were members of the 1958 longitudinal British birth c ohort study (NCDS), Cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, measured a s units consumed in the past week and as problem drinking using the CA GE questionnaire and the body mass index (BMI) were measured at age 33 years. Both the amount of unemployment accumulated between the ages o f 16 and 33 years and recent unemployment experienced in the year prio r to interview at age 33 years were examined. When compared with men w ho had never been unemployed, the adjusted relative odds amongst men w ith over three years of accumulated unemployment (after adjustment for possible confounding socioeconomic and behavioural factors measured p rior to unemployment) were 2.11 (95% CI: 1.42-3.12) for smoking, 2.13 (95% CI: 1.32-3.42) for a low BMI and non-significant for a high BMI; 1.52 (95% CI: 1.04-2.24) for no alcohol consumed; non-significant for high alcohol consumption, but 2.15 (95% CI: 1.39-3.33) for problem dri nking. Men who had experienced unemployment in the year prior to the i nterview, compared to those who had not, after adjustment, were signif icantly more likely to smoke (RO 2.92, 95% Cl: 2.13-4.01), drink heavi ly (RO 1.73, 95% CI: 1.18-2.54) and to have a drink problem (RO 2.90, 95% CI: 1.99-4.21). Unemployment may play a significant part in establ ishing lifelong patterns of hazardous behaviour in young men.