Young Adult Workers Research Articles

Excessive use of social networking sites and financial well-being among working millennials: a parallel-serial mediation model

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the mediating role of financial attitude and perceived behavioral control with financial behavior in the association between excessive use of social networking sites (SNSs) and financial well-being among working millennials.Design/methodology/approachA crossed-sectional survey was used to obtain data through a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 485 working millennials (M age = 32.28, years, SD age = 4.75) in Malaysia participated in the study based on a purposive sampling technique. Covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) was used to evaluate the measurement model and the proposed serial mediation model.FindingsThe findings of this study revealed that excessive use of SNS is negatively associated with financial well-being. Also, the findings suggested that financial attitude and perceived behavioral with financial behavior serially mediated the negative relationship between excessive use of SNS and financial well-being, respectively.Practical implicationsSeveral implications were suggested and discussed to prevent the negative impact of excessive SNS use on financial well-being among young working adults. Policymakers and financial service providers (e.g. banks) can draw from the findings by constantly framing and delivering their messages to increase the young working adults' awareness of pitfalls of excessive use of innovative technologies on their financial attitudes and self-control over their behaviors and financial well-being.Originality/valueThis study entails some new insights on examining the impact of excessive use of SNS on working millennials' financial well-being as well as the underlying mechanisms behind this phenomenon.

Validating the decent work scale incorporated with a social recognition component among young adult social workers.

The decent work notion has sparkled a keen academic interest in studying the psychological influence of decent work on workers in organizational contexts. Duffy’s decent work notion has left a window for addressing the interpersonal barriers on or factors for enhancing people’s equal access to decent work, which may enhance the capacity of the decent work notion and the psychology of working theory to promote inclusiveness within the organizational context through leveraging the interpersonal mechanisms. Against this backdrop, a across-sectional study was conducted to validate a decent work scale incorporated with a social recognition component among young adult social workers aged 21–29 in Hong Kong (N = 362). The results of confirmatory factor analyses supported the six-factor-higher-order model of the decent work scale incorporated with a social recognition component. Decent work incorporated with social recognition correlated with job demands, job resources, and work engagement in the expected directions, and the results of average variance extracted analyses supported the discriminant validity of the decent work scale incorporated with social recognition. The value added by decent work in enhancing work engagement after controlling the effects of job resources justifies the concurrent validity of the concept. The expanded notion of decent work incorporated with the social recognition component is deemed applicable to informing further research and practice.

Shift work, clinically significant sleep disorders and mental health in a representative, cross-sectional sample of young working adults

Mental health conditions confer considerable global disease burden in young adults, who are also the highest demographic to work shifts, and of whom 20% meet criteria for a sleep disorder. We aimed to establish the relationship between the combined effect of shift work and sleep disorders, and mental health. The Raine Study is the only longitudinal, population-based birth cohort in the world with gold-standard, Level 1 measurement of sleep (polysomnography, PSG) collected in early adulthood. Participants (aged 22y) underwent in-laboratory PSG and completed detailed sleep questionnaires. Multivariable adjusted robust linear regression models were conducted to explore associations with anxiety (GAD7) and depression (PHQ9), adjusted for sex, health comorbidities, and work hours/week. Data were from 660 employed young adults (27.3% shift workers). At least one clinically significant sleep disorder was present in 18% of shift workers (day, evening and night shifts) and 21% of non-shift workers (p = 0.51); 80% were undiagnosed. Scores for anxiety and depression were not different between shift and non-shift workers (p = 0.29 and p = 0.82); but were higher in those with a sleep disorder than those without (Md(IQR) anxiety: 7.0(4.0–10.0) vs 4.0(1.0–6.0)), and depression: (9.0(5.0–13.0) vs 4.0(2.0–6.0)). Considering evening and night shift workers only (i.e. excluding day shift workers) revealed an interaction between shift work and sleep disorder status for anxiety (p = 0.021), but not depression (p = 0.96), with anxiety scores being highest in those shift workers with a sleep disorder (Md(IQR) 8.5(4.0–12.2). We have shown that clinical sleep disorders are common in young workers and are largely undiagnosed. Measures of mental health do not appear be different between shift and non-shift workers. These findings indicate that the identification and treatment of clinical sleep disorders should be prioritised for young workers as these sleep disorders, rather than shift work per se, are associated with poorer mental health. These negative mental health effects appear to be greatest in those who work evening and/or night shift and have a sleep disorder.

Work Addiction and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress: the Mediating Role of Food Addiction Among Lebanese Young Adult Workers.

Work addiction is considered a public health concern, as it can lead to negative and harmful health outcomes. However, patterns leading from work addiction to mental health concerns remain so far largely unknown and under-studied. We aimed to verify whether the relationship between work addiction and psychological distress (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress) is mediated by food addiction among young adult workers in the context of Lebanese culture. The second objective was to validate the Arabic version of the Bergen Work Addiction Scale (BWAS). The online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1268 Lebanese young adult workers (65.1% females, mean age 26.18 years) using the Bergen Work Addiction Scale, the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale, the Yale Food Addiction Scale, and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. The PROCESS SPSS Macro version 3.4, model four, was used to compute the mediation analysis. Findings revealed that 175 (13.8%) were presented as work-addicted individuals, and 226 (17.8%) exhibited addictive-like eating behaviors. Bivariate analyses showed that higher degree of work addiction and food addiction was significantly associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. The results of the mediation analysis showed that the association between work addiction and depression, anxiety, and stress was mediated by food addiction. In light of our findings, we cautiously suggest that the link of work addiction to psychological distress via food addiction implies that strategies targeting food addiction might mitigate the harmful effects of work addiction on workers’ mental health.

The Factors Influencing Cryptocurrency Awareness Among Generation Z in Malaysia: The Roles of Trust, Confidence, and Social Acceptance

This study's main objective and purpose is to investigate the social factors that influence cryptocurrency awareness among Generation Z in Malaysia. The practical implications of this study can be helpful for future policymakers to understand better the drive behind cryptocurrency awareness among the general population, i.e., young working adults in Malaysia. In addition, this study will assist future researchers in better identifying the importance of social acceptance, trust, and confidence factors. The research design is a quantitative study of the factors driving cryptocurrency awareness among Generation Z here in Malaysia based on social factors, specifically social acceptance, trust, and confidence. The methodology is based on primary data collection techniques such as using questionnaires and surveys implemented through a cross-sectional research design. Questionnaire data were collected from a sample of 211 participants in Malaysia, with the majority of participants between 18 and 25 years old. The results confirm that trust, confidence level, and social acceptance have a moderately positive and significant relationship with cryptocurrency awareness. This means that social factors such as trust, trust level, and social acceptance have an impact on the awareness of cryptocurrencies among Generation Z in Malaysia. However, since there are some limitations, suggestions and recommendations were discussed in this study.

Metabolomics-Guided Comparison of Pollen and Microalgae-Based Artificial Diets in Honey Bees.

Managed honey bee colonies used for crop pollination are fed artificial diets to offset nutritional deficiencies related to land-use intensification and climate change. In this study, we formulated novel microalgae diets using Chlorella vulgaris and Arthrospira platensis (spirulina) biomass and fed them to young adult honey bee workers. Diet-induced changes in bee metabolite profiles were studied relative to a natural pollen diet using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) metabolomics. Untargeted analyses of pollen- and microalgae-fed bees revealed significant overlap, with 248 shared features determined by LC-MS and 87 shared features determined by GC-MS. Further metabolomic commonalities were evident upon subtraction of unique diet features. Twenty-five identified metabolites were influenced by diet, which included complex lipids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and phytochemicals. The metabolomics results are useful to understand mechanisms underlying favorable growth performance as well as increased antioxidant and heat shock protein gene expression in bees fed the microalgae diets. We conclude that the tested microalgae have potential as sustainable feed additives and as a source of bee health-modulating natural products. Metabolomics-guided diet development could eventually help tailor feed interventions to achieve precision nutrition in honey bees and other livestock animals.

BLOOD CADMIUM LEVEL AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN A SAMPLE OF IRAQI WORKERS

Background: The etiologies of mental disorders involve interactions among genetic, developmental, social, and environmental risk factors. An association between blood cadmium and depression was recently reported in young adults. Objective: To determine the prevalence of elevated blood cadmium level and to evaluate its association with depressive symptoms among adult Iraqi workers. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study that conducted in two industries in Baghdad. It included 200 young adult male and female workers in the batteries factory (100 participants) who were exposed directly or indirectly to cadmium and in the textile factory (100 participants) unrelated to direct cadmium exposure. Blood sample was taken for measurement of blood cadmium level. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used to measure the symptoms of depression. Results: Mean of blood cadmium level was significantly higher in participants who had depressive symptoms than that in those who didn’t have; in those with moderate to severe symptoms than that in those who had mild symptoms. Blood cadmium >0.21 µg/dl is predictive for risk of development of depressive symptoms. Statistically significant weak positive correlations were detected between blood Cd with total PHQ9 score, no. of cigarettes/day, duration of work in batteries factory and in textile factory. Conclusion: Elevation of blood cadmium level among sample of adult Iraqi workers especially in batteries factory is a significant health problem. Cadmium neurotoxicity may be a contributing factor for adverse mental health outcomes, even at levels generally considered to pose low or no risk. Keywords: Depression, mental illness, health, cadmium, workers, Iraq Citation: Al-Samaraee MF, Sahib AAA. Blood cadmium level and its association with depressive symptoms in a sample of Iraqi workers. Iraqi JMS. 2022; 20(1): 44-50. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.20.1.6

Factors Influencing Cryptocurrency Awareness Among Young Working Adults in Malaysia: A Conceptual Paper

The main objective of this study is to investigate the social factors that influence the awareness of cryptocurrencies among young working adults in Malaysia. The study is a cross-sectional, quantitative, and conceptual research. This study focuses on three possible factors that influence cryptocurrency awareness: social acceptance, trust, and confidence. The study suggests that the most appropriate data collection technique for this conceptual work is primary data collection through questionnaires. The results of this study can also provide important input for policy makers to better understand the drive behind cryptocurrency awareness among the population. In addition, this study expands the knowledge of the possible relationship between social factors and cryptocurrency awareness by considering social acceptance, trust, and confidence.

Exposed and unprotected: Sex worker vulnerabilities during the COVID-19 health emergency in Mozambique

ABSTRACT Measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 have been shown to disproportionately affect the marginalised groups in our societies. We studied the impacts of national restrictions on young adult sex workers in Mozambique, and actions at individual, governmental and civil society level to mitigate against these impacts. The country case study was part of a multi-country qualitative research, including fifty-four semi-structured interviews with female sex workers (N = 38), outreach workers (N = 10) in Maputo and Quelimane, and informants with key positions in national COVID coordination bodies, the Ministry of Health and civil society organisations (N = 7). While restrictions impacted all sex worker participants, the COVID crisis was found to deepen existing class differences and further incite violence against the most visible and economically vulnerable category of street-based sex workers. Parallel enforcement of morals against this group of ‘urban undesirables’ resulted in bodily harm and further degradation of the female sex worker under the guise of COVID emergency decrees, while restrictions weakened protection from peers and outreach workers against abuse by the police and other perpetrators. The State needs to act against unlawful police action and include impact mitigation strategies in its public health response to COVID in order to protect the most vulnerable.

Behavioural regulation of mineral salt intake in honeybees: a self-selection approach.

Minerals are required in small amounts to sustain metabolic activity in animals, but mineral deficiencies can also lead to metabolic bottlenecks and mineral excesses can induce toxicity. For these reasons, we could reasonably expect that micronutrients are actively regulated around nutritional optima. Honeybees have co-evolved with flowering plants such that their main sources of nutrients are floral pollen and nectar. Like other insects, honeybees balance their intake of multiple macronutrients during food consumption using a combination of pre- and post-ingestive mechanisms. How they regulate their intake of micronutrients using these mechanisms has rarely been studied. Using two-choice feeding assays, we tested whether caged and broodless young workers preferred solutions containing individual salts (NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, MgCl2) or metals (FeCl3, CuCl2, ZnCl2, MnCl2) in a concentration-dependent manner. We found that young adult workers could only self-select and optimize their dietary intake around specific concentrations of sodium, iron and copper. Bees largely avoided high concentration mineral solutions to minimize toxicity. These experiments demonstrate the limits of the regulation of intake of micronutrients in honeybees. This is the first study to compare this form of behaviour in one organism for eight different micronutrients.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Natural processes influencing pollinator health: from chemistry to landscapes’.

Non-cognitive mismatch and occupational switching

The process by which workers and firms establish positive assortative matches is complicated by the multidimensional nature of occupational requirements and worker skills and traits. This is especially important for young adult workers because early career mismatch is known to have long-term impacts on labor market outcomes. This paper extends recent research on multidimensional mismatch to look more closely at the role of non-cognitive mismatch on occupational switching. We do this by using data on the ‘Big Five’ personality traits available in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997. Fixed effects estimates show that the responsiveness of occupational switching to non-cognitive mismatch appears to be at least as large as that for cognitive skill mismatch. Despite their responsiveness, workers appear to have more success improving their cognitive match than their non-cognitive match.

A Test of Social Cognitive Theory to Increase Hearing Protection Use in Swine Buildings.

Farming ranks among the top occupations for which workers are at risk for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), an irreversible yet preventable condition. Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs) (i.e., earmuffs and ear plugs) are effective at preventing expo- sure to noise; however, few farmers report consistent use. The purpose of this study was to test an intervention based on Social Cognitive Theory with interactive smartphone technology to increase the use of HPDs among swine facility workers. A pilot, quasi-experimental study was implemented among 72 younger adult swine workers. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Group 1 received HPDs (e.g., earmuffs and ear plugs). Group 2 received the same HPDs as Group 1 and was also instructed to use a smartphone application to track their use of hearing protection for 60 days. Group 3 received the HPDs and instructions on using a smartphone app for tracking the use of hearing protection and setting daily goals for hearing protection use. Use of hearing protection was assessed via an online survey prior to the intervention (i.e., "baseline"), immediately after the post-intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up. Compared to baseline use, all three groups reported increased use of hearing protection immediately post-intervention. However, this increase was not maintained at a 3-month follow-up for two of the study groups. Group 3 (HPD, tracking, and goal-setting app) showed the greatest increase in the use of HPDs from baseline to immediate post-intervention; however, Group 1 (HPD only) showed the greatest sustained increase from baseline to the 3-month follow-up. Modifying the environment by supplying HPDs was effective in increasing HPD use among swine facility workers. Improving access to hearing protection devices alone may lead to sustained changes in behavior.

Comparison of different overweight and obesity indexes in young adult Spanish workers

Comparison of different overweight and obesity indexes in young adult Spanish workers

Measuring the effect of gender segregation on the gender gap in time-related underemployment

This paper focuses on the impact that gender segregation in the labour market exerts on the underemployment gender gap for young adult workers in Spain. In order to analyse the relative importance of segregation in this gap, we develop a methodology based on two counterfactual simulations that provides a detailed decomposition of the gap into endowments and coefficients effects as well as the interaction of these effects. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to perform a decomposition using bivariate probit models with sample selection. Using annual samples of the Spanish Labour Force Survey 2006–2016, the results show that working in female-dominated occupations or industries hinders working as many hours as desired, especially for women. Furthermore, we conclude that the gender gap in underemployment is mainly due to the different distribution of male and female workers across occupations and industries. Additionally, the different impact by gender that working in the same gender-typing jobs exerts on the risk of underemployment contributes to widening the gap.

Establishment of Identity and Suffocation Following Inhalation of Carbon Monoxide in a Series of Five Cases

A rapid and sudden death in a single incident like mass casualty poses challenge for health care facilities.Especially in such cases, identification of the deceased is the most important task for investigating policeofficers and doctors. The present study is a seriesof death of five young adult male workers,who died in atragic fire which broke out in the confined space at under construction plant. All the bodies were renderedunidentifiable from facial recognition due to charring and blackening. Theprimary identification of thedeceased was established based upon partially burnt clothes and personal belongings. The autopsyfindings being superficial to deep burns, charring and blackening, soot particles inrespiratory tract weresimilar in all the five victims. The bloodpreserved for estimation ofcarboxy-haemoglobin level showedpositive results in all the five cases. Soot in trachea and increased carboxy-haemoglobin level in bloodsuggested that the persons were alive at the time of incident. In all the five cases, death was caused dueto suffocation by inhalation of carbon monoxide gas associated with thermal injuries. Role of forensicexperts is to help in the identification of victims and to determine manner and cause of death.

Rate of Chicken Eggs Consumption Does not Affect Blood Pressure and Serum Lipogram, Glucose, Proteins, IGF-1 or Total Bile Acids Levels in Healthy Young Male Adult Farm Workers : A Cross-Sectional Study

Rate of Chicken Eggs Consumption Does not Affect Blood Pressure and Serum Lipogram, Glucose, Proteins, IGF-1 or Total Bile Acids Levels in Healthy Young Male Adult Farm Workers : A Cross-Sectional Study

Depression and Diabetes in Workers Across the Life Span: Addressing the Health of America's Workforce-Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2014-2018.

Diabetes affects nearly 12.2% of U.S. adults. Comorbid depressive symptoms among U.S. workers with diabetes are associated with increased unemployment and reduced work performance. This study examined the age-group-specific prevalence of depression among U.S. workers with self-reported diabetes and identified factors associated with depression. Data from the 2014-2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were used to examine the prevalence of depression among adult workers with diabetes in the United States. Relationships between depression prevalence and diabetes and demographic, physical, and behavioral risk factors were examined through bivariate and multivariable analyses. Age was categorized into four groups: 18-34, 35-54, 55-64, and ≥65 years. The overall prevalence of self-reported depression among U.S. workers with diabetes was 17.4-30% higher than among those without diabetes. Workers with diabetes aged 18-34 years had the highest depression prevalence (28.7%) compared with other age-groups. Female workers with diabetes were significantly more likely than male workers to report depression in all age-groups. Young adult workers with diabetes who had another chronic disease were nearly three times more likely to report depression than those without another chronic condition. There were no overlapping patterns of prevalence of diabetes and depression by state. Workers with diabetes are at an increased risk of depression, which can affect their overall health and productivity. These findings indicate that, among those with diabetes, young adult workers and women are most likely to have depression. Employee wellness programs may address the specific needs of individuals with diabetes and depression.

Sense of security when new at work: a thematic analysis of interviews with young adult retail workers in Sweden

PurposePositive examples of situations in which young adults new at work experience feeling secure in the role as novice in the work force are here focused. The aim is to analyze how young adults who are new to the labor market express having a sense of security in the workplace. The long-term goal is to strengthen the conditions for the health and wellbeing of workers entering the retail labor market.Design/methodology/approachThirteen individual in-depth telephone/video-interviews were conducted with young adults (aged 18–28) working within the retail sector in Sweden. Using a thematic interview schedule, the interviews focused how the interviewees contextualizing stories on being novice at the labor market. The study is based on those parts of the material in which stories on feeling secure was expressed.FindingsThe analysis resulted in two themes: A sense of security is related to carrying out work safely and a sense of security is related to receiving support. The first theme illuminates how work is structured and safety training respectively contributes to a sense of security and the latter reveal how social support from a variety of sources (managers, colleagues and others outside the work environment) contributes to a sense of security when new at work.Originality/valueUsing a health promoting perspective, the study complements the existing perspectives of challenges faced by novices as they enter working life. Also, the study highlights the importance of including relations outside the workplace when searching for the understanding of the experiences of being new at work. The study indicates that focusing on the sense of security by well-structured work, safety training and social support might contribute to the strive for a sustainable working life for young adults.

PRECARITY, AGENCY, AND UNSUSTAINABILITY: THE MOBILITY OF YOUNG ADULT TOURISM WORKERS IN BANFF NATIONAL PARK, CANADA

This article focuses on young adults who travel to work and live in the Rocky Mountain resort destination of Banff National Park in western Canada. This is usually an early work experience in the lives of these young workers, often their first. I discuss the patterns and the impact of the work mobility of young adult tourism workers using three different frames of understanding: (a) the precarious employment associated with the tourism industry itself; (b) the specific place and community of Banff and how it shapes particular conditions of precarity and agency within the tourism industry and for young tourism workers’ experiences; and (c) the young adult tourism workers themselves — their motives for work and travel, their experiences of work, and their agency in navigating the tourism industry in Banff. Using these three frames, I examine the impact of precarity and agency on the transfer of work knowledge, on the sustainability of the tourism industry work and the community, and on the young adult tourism workers’ future work experiences. It is critical to examine work precarity, worker agency, and job and community sustainability in order to understand more fully the experiences of mobility of young adult tourism workers, and their early work experiences. This is all the more important as, in a climate of economic change and restructuring, young adult workers are becoming central to the consideration of employment policy issues.

Physical Disability at Work: How Functional Limitation Affects Perceived Discrimination and Interpersonal Relationships in the Workplace.

Adults with disability have significantly lower rates of labor force participation relative to persons without disability, although it is unclear whether this disparity extends to subjective workplace experiences. Using data from the 2004 to 2006 wave of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (n =2,030), we evaluate: (1) whether U.S. workers with physical disability report higher levels of perceived job discrimination and unequal workplace opportunities and lower levels of supervisor and coworker support and (2) whether these patterns differ by sex, age, and occupation group. We find that workers with physical disability fare significantly worse on all four outcomes net of covariates. Disability takes a particularly large toll on men's perceived workplace opportunities and white-collar employees' relationships with coworkers. Young adult workers (ages 30-39) with disability report significantly more support from their supervisor relative to their counterparts without disability. We discuss implications for research and policy.