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Occupational segregation as a determinant of US worker health
Author(s) -
ChungBridges Katherine,
Muntaner Carles,
Fleming Lora E.,
Lee David J.,
Arheart Kristopher L.,
LeBlanc William G.,
Christ Sharon L.,
McCollister Kathryn E.,
Caban Alberto J.,
Davila Evelyn P.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.20599
Subject(s) - medicine , logistic regression , environmental health , occupational safety and health , public health , gerontology , demography , nursing , pathology , sociology
Background Racial segregation provides a potential mechanism to link occupations with adverse health outcomes. Methods An African‐American segregation index (I AA ) was calculated for US worker groups from the nationally representative pooled 1986–1994 National Health Interview Survey (n = 451,897). Ranking and logistic regression analyses were utilized to document associations between I AA and poor worker health. Results There were consistent positive associations between employment in segregated occupations and poor worker health, regardless of covariate adjustment or stratification (e.g., age, gender, income, education, or geographic region). This association between segregation and poor health was stronger for White as compared to African‐American workers. Conclusions Occupational segregation negatively affects all workers. Potential mechanisms need to be identified through which occupational segregation may adversely impact worker health. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:555–567, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.