Ph oto co u r t e s y o f r e d wi g g le r fa r m
Employment and Health
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Past research has looked at the impact of one’s health on employment and has established a theory called the “healthy worker effect.” This is the idea that health impacts employment; the healthier an individual, the more likely he or she is to be working and employed (Ross & Mirowsky, 1995; p. 230). However, the supporting research and data that explains the connection of employment to improved health is just starting to emerge. Across various sectors of the labor force, including women and individuals with physical disabilities, researchers have demonstrated evidence of a positive link between employment and health; however, data has been limited in speaking specifically about the improved health effects of employment for individuals with autism. Even so, the evidence currently available that suggests employment does indeed improve one’s health can surely be used as a starting point to help support the idea that employment is good for everyone, regardless of disability.
Link Between Employment Status and Health A 2007 study assessing the impact of employment status and frequency of Workers bag harvest at community farm.
mental distress (FMD) (self-reported as
significantly negative impact on the lives of
of self and place in the world” (Turner &
the number of days within a 30-day period
individuals with disabilities.
Turner, 2004; pp. 241-242). Benefits of
that an individual’s mental health was
being employed extend beyond just earning
not good) among adults with disabilities
an income, to include greater self-esteem,
has established that the unadjusted rate
Benefits of Employment If employment is viewed as a huge component of being successful in America, we must ask: What exactly does being employed provide to an individual? First thought may lead us to the idea that
formation of self-purpose and the ability to interact with others. Surely, being employed can help individuals develop assets and a feeling of purpose, but is
of FMD was 18 percent for adults with disabilities who were employed compared to 40 percent among those who were unemployed. Additionally, “employed adults with disabilities were less likely than those
employment means economic advancement.
there more? Research tells us that the two
According to J. Turner and R. Turner,
domains explained by J. Turner and R.
inactive, current smokers, in fair/poor
“…stresses associated with job loss occur
Turner are not the only positive attributes of
health and uninsured.” These findings
predominantly in one of two domains. The
working. Is it possible that being employed
support “a strong association between
first of these is financial strain…the second
contributes to not only greater self-esteem
employment status and mental distress
domain involves the individual’s sense
but improved overall health?
who were not employed to be physically
SECOND EDITION 2010 •
Autism Advocate 19