The positive association between employment and self-reported mental health in the USA: a robust application of marginalized zero-inflated negative binomial regression (MZINB)

Abstract

Background: Few studies have assessed the impact of employment on mental health among chronically ill patients. This study investigated the association between employment and self-reported mental unhealthy days among US adults.

Methods: For this cross-sectional cohort study, we pooled 2011-2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey data. We examined the association between employment and mental health in nine self-reported chronic conditions using marginalized zero-inflated negative binomial regression (MZINB). All analyses were conducted using SAS statistical software 9.4.

Results: Respondents (weighted n = 245 319 917) were mostly white (77.16%), aged 18-64 (78.31%) and employed (57.08%). Approximately 10% of respondents reported one chronic condition. Expected relative risk of mental unhealthy days was highest for employed respondents living with arthritis (RR = 1.70, 95% CI = [1.66, 1.74]), COPD (RR = 1.45, 95% CI = [1.41, 1.49]) and stroke (RR = 1.31, 95% CI = [1.25, 1.36]) compared to unemployed respondents. Employed males had 25% lower risk of self-reported mental unhealthy days compared to females.

Conclusions: Results show the interactive effects of employment on self-reported mental health. Employment may significantly impact on self-reported mental health among patients suffering from chronic conditions than those without chronic conditions.

Keywords: chronic disease; employment, Marginalized Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial Model and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; mental health.