Abstract
The effects of changes in employment status on health within couples have attracted increasing attention. This paper contributes to this emerging research by investigating whether the impact of a partner’s employment status on individual self-rated health varies systematically across countries with varying decommodification levels. We use longitudinal data from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) and hybrid models. We find that a change in an individual’s employment status may affect the health not just of the person who experiences this transition, but that of his or her partner. The likelihood that such a spillover will occur varies across countries with different decommodification levels. The negative effects of a partner’s employment status on self-rated health are observed when the generosity of welfare state support is limited. The moderating effects of financial support from the state are not very strong, though. They are not robust across all our models and do not extend to all the dimensions of the generosity of welfare state support.
Highlights
The growing volatility of labour markets in Europe and United States has raised concerns about the consequences of job losses for population health
A lack of a job may leave traces on physical health, due to accumulation of mental health problems over a long period of time and as a result of health-related behaviours adopted after stopping paid work (Pampel et al, 2010)
In Models 3 and 4 we include interactions between individual and partner’s employment status with indicators measuring net replacement rates. These results reveal that among women, the effects of changes in both own and partner’s employment status are related to poorer self-rated health when welfare state support is non-existent, that is, at net replacement rates equal to zero
Summary
The growing volatility of labour markets in Europe and United States has raised concerns about the consequences of job losses for population health. Employment is the main source of income for the majority of people of working age, it has been shown to be vital for developing social contacts, sharing goals and purposes with others, defining important aspects of personal status and identity (Jahoda, 1981). Individuals who are not involved in paid work are deprived of these benefits. A lack of a job may leave traces on physical health, due to accumulation of mental health problems over a long period of time and as a result of health-related behaviours adopted after stopping paid work (Pampel et al, 2010). A lack of gainful employment can lead to a deterioration in an individual’s mental and physical health
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
