Insecurity In the Workplace May Increase The Risk Of Asthma

Recent findings published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) show that job insecurity can increase the risk of first-time asthma.

Data involved in the research examined over 7,000 working adults from the German Socio-Economic Panel study between 2009 and 2011, which was during a period of economic turmoil in Europe. Throughout this period, many participants lost their jobs over the next two years.

Findings revealed that adults who felt that they were more likely to lose their job over the next two years tended to be younger, single, less educated and have lower monthly income than those who felt the risk was low to non-existent.

Furthermore, job insecurity also increased the risk of depression and decreased the likelihood of being employed on permanent contracts.

Researchers examined various sociodemographic factors, including depression and lifestyle to determine why asthma risk may increase with job insecurity. They found that an individual's risk of developing first-time asthma actually rose by 24 percent for every 25 percent increase in perceived threat of job loss.

Furthermore, the risk of asthma increased by up to 60 percent in participants who believed that they were more likely to lose their job when compared to those who were not afraid of this factor.

"Our findings may also provide a possible explanation for the increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms during the recent economic crisis in the UK," researchers concluded.