ABSTRACT
Brousseau and Yen (2001) mapped out some of the most central connections between work and health in modern times. Their review of the extant research literature revealed 12 work and health themes, and showed that work and health are believed to be connected through both direct and indirect causal relationships (see Table 4.1). First, there is a wealth of evidence showing that work is central to social status, which is one of the most powerful predictors of health outcomes (Adler, Marmot, McEwen, & Stewart, 1999). Some research even suggests that
every step up the occupational ladder has positive health outcomes (Marmot, 1998). Unemployment, underemployment, and the degree of control that employees exercise over their work have been clearly linked to health risks and poor health outcomes (Dooley et al., 1996; Dooley & Prause, 1998; Jin, Shah, & Svoboda, 1999). Finally, access to health insurance and worksite health promotion programs comes primarily through employers, and has positive health consequences (Schauffler & Brown, 2000).
