Job strain and job insecurity have strong links with poor health and especially poor mental health.

Researchers in Australia have assessed a group of 1,188 employed individuals about their job and their health. They found that 23 per cent reported high job strain - high demands coupled with low control - and 7 per cent and 23 per cent reported high and moderate job insecurity, respectively.

Insecure employment and high job strain showed strong links to physical and mental ill health, independently of other risk factors. Given that the labor market is becoming increasingly globalized and competitive, it's likely that strain and insecurity will go up. This study suggests that the influence of work on health should be high up the public policy agenda.

Source

Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health November 2003 Volume 57 pages 849-54