Cohort studies for the identification of a causal relationship between lifestyle-related diseases and employment status

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23790580
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Medical sociology
• Research Institution: Teikyo University
• Principal Investigator: INOUE Mariko 帝京大学, 大学院 公衆衛生学研究科, 講師 (20508048)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 健康格差 / 非正規雇用 / 不安定就労 / 社会格差 / 社会疫学 / ディーセント・ワーク

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of the studies was to confirm the existence of a causal relationship between employment status and the onset of chronic lifestyle-related diseases. From five-year cohort study of male workers,we found that fixed-term workers experienced an increase in Body Mass Index compared to that in permanent works. This indicates that fixed-term workers are more likely to develop obesity than permanent workers, possibly due to their working environment or stress. The second cross-sectional study of factory workers showed that blood pressure levels as well as lipid and glucose metabolism were higher among fixed-term workers than permanent workers. However, we also found that permanent workers worked longer and experienced difficulties in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If the status quo in terms of the current disparities among employment status in society were to continue, it is possible that the health status of workers might deteriorate, regardless of employment types.

Free Research Field

社会疫学