New UCL research reveals that members of generation X who reported long-term physical and mental health difficulties at age 42 are less likely to be employed at age 51.
Researchers from the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies analysed data from more than 7,000 people born in England, Scotland and Wales who are taking part in the 1970 British Cohort Study. They looked at information about the health of study participants reported at age 42, and data on their employment situation in their early 50s.
At age 42, nearly one in three people reported having a longstanding illness or a history of back pain. One in four were experiencing obesity, one in five were experiencing psychological distress, one in seven reported a history of high blood pressure, and one in 30 had diabetes.
Most members of gen X were economically active at age 51 (working full-time or part-time, or unemployed but looking for work). Nearly 9% reported they were economically inactive (not working or searching for employment) because of health problems.
People who experienced health problems at age 42 were more likely to be out of work at age 51 than those who did not experience these issues. People who had a longstanding illness had a 6.5 percentage point higher risk of being economically inactive due to their health.
These findings suggest that more needs to be done to support people living with long-term health problems to continue in, or return to, work. This could include better integration of occupational health and healthcare services, to improve how chronic health conditions are managed once they are diagnosed.
Individuals who reported mental health difficulties at age 42 were 4.5 percentage points more likely not to be working because of their health at age 51, and those with a history of persistent back pain at age 42 were 3.2 percentage points more likely to not be working in midlife due to health problems.
Nevertheless, most people with long-term health conditions at age 42 were in work at age 51. For example, nearly two in three people who experienced poor mental health in their early 40s were working full-time or part-time in midlife.
Among those who had experienced poor health at age 42, individuals who remained in work a decade later tended to be more socioeconomically advantaged than those who were no longer working due to health problems. They were more likely to be homeowners, and to have higher levels of education and household income.
Lead author, Laura Gimeno (UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies) said: “These findings suggest that more needs to be done to support people living with long-term health problems to continue in, or return to, work. This could include better integration of occupational health and healthcare services, to improve how chronic health conditions are managed once they are diagnosed.”
Further information
Read: Health and economic inactivity: initial findings from the 1970 British Cohort Study at Age 51 by Laura Gimeno, Charis Bridger Staatz, and George Ploubidis.
