Mental disorders may affect individuals, families and businesses by influencing employment outcomes. Associations were examined between major mental disorders during the past year and problems at work, income and percent employed. Bivariate and regression techniques were applied to weighted sample of 4593 US adults ages 18-54 from the National Comorbidity Survey (1990-92). Age, education and urban-rural index were used as covariates. More women reported anxiety (22.2 vs 13.3%) and mood (15.9 vs 9.6%) disorders compared to men, while more men reported substance abuse disorders (15.6 vs 6.8%). Anxiety disorders were associated with higher levels of ongoing problems at work (p< .001), lower personal income (p< .05) and lower percent employed (p< .001). The largest effects were observed among minority men and women. Mood disorders were linked to higher levels of ongoing problems at work (p< .02), and impacted minority women more than any other subgroup. Mood disorders were also associated with lower income (for white women only, p< .05) and lower percent employed (for white men and women only, p< .001). Substance abuse disorders were associated with higher levels of ongoing problems at work for white men and women (p< .05), lower income (for white men only, p< .02) and lower levels of percent employed (for men only, p< .002). Overall, anxiety disorders affected the broadest spectrum of people in this sample. These results highlight significant mental disorders impact on employment outcomes, especially for minority women. Questions remain about access to services, resources and employment policies surrounding treatment and recovery.
Learning Objectives: 1. Recognize patterns of major mental disorders in the US workforce. 2. Analyze how these may affect employment outcomes such as personal income, current employment and ongoing problems at work. 3. Explore strategies for applying this knowledge to understanding issues such as access to care, employer leave policies and family resources for treatment and recovery.
Keywords: Mental Health, Economic Analysis
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.