An uncertain future: The health effects of threats to employment security in white-collar men and women

Objectives. This study examined changes in the health status of civil servants whose employment security was threatened. Methods. Data were derived am a longitudinal cohort of 10 308 men and women, office staff in 20 British civil sell-ice departments. Physiological measurements, self-reported morbidity,rind health-related behaviors for 530 members of the department under threat wire compared with those of 19 other departments, during the period of uncertainty and during stable employment 5 years earlier Results. From a position of advantage or so difference at baseline: self-reported morbidity and physiological risk factors tended to increase,among respondents from the threatened department compared with those from other departments. For both sexes, increases : were significant for-body mass index; (P<.001) and sleeping 9 or morte hours (odds ratio [OR]= 1.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3, 2.8; P<.01); modest but significant increases were seen in ischemia (OR= 1.45; 95% CI= 1.0, 2.1) and cholesterol concentration (0.08 mmol/L; 95% CI=0.01, 0.14). Among women only, a significant relative increase in blood pressure (P<.01) was recorded. Over the same period health-related behaviors changed little. Conclusions. Threats to employment security have adverse consequences for health status that are unexplained by health selection or health-related behaviors.