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Title: Health Behaviors and Health Outcomes among Construction Workers in the United States, a Longitudinal Study
Resulting in 1 citation.
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Dong, Xiuwen Sue Wang, Xuanwen Largay, Julie |
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Health Behaviors and Health Outcomes among Construction Workers in the United States, a Longitudinal Study Presented: New Orleans LA, American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo, November 2014 Cohort(s): NLSY79 Publisher: American Public Health Association Keyword(s): Alcohol Use; Blue-Collar Jobs; Drug Use; Health, Chronic Conditions; Health, Mental/Psychological; Health/Health Status/SF-12 Scale; Industrial Classification; Physical Activity (see also Exercise); Smoking (see Cigarette Use); Substance Use Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher. Methods: Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979 cohort (1979-2010), were used. Construction workers (n=1,409) were defined as those who were employed in construction for at least three years between 1979 and 2010. Health behaviors in the follow-up period were measured by a risky behavior index (RBI), including diet plans, physical exercise, and the use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine. Health outcomes were measured by self-reported physical and mental health and doctor-diagnosed chronic conditions at the age of 40. Results: Initial findings show that the construction cohort gained weight during the three decades of follow-up; the percentage of obese workers increased from 3.9% to 31.8%. Almost all workers in this cohort were involved in risky behaviors when they were teenagers. However, smoking tobacco and drinking heavily declined significantly in middle age. The RBI was strongly correlated with both physical and mental health. Among those with an RBI less than five, 82% reported their health was excellent or very good at age 40, compared to 56% for those with an RBI greater than 10. Similar patterns were found in mental health and chronic conditions. |
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Bibliography Citation
Dong, Xiuwen Sue, Xuanwen Wang and Julie Largay. "Health Behaviors and Health Outcomes among Construction Workers in the United States, a Longitudinal Study." Presented: New Orleans LA, American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo, November 2014. |