Relation between occupational activity, health and quality of life among young inhabitants of Silesien voivodeship

BACKGROUND: Socio-economic factors, including occupational activity and unemployment, are the most significant determinants of the quality of life.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The epidemiological cross-sectional study was carried out among young inhabitants aged 25-44 years living in the Silesian voivodeship. The aim of the presented study was to assess and identify factors that determine the quality of life, self-assessed health status and chronic diseases, mainly including the determinants relating to occupational activity and unemployment. A short version of the WHOQOLBREF questionnaire was used to ascertain the quality of life of individuals.

RESULTS: The study examined 602 inhabitants of the Silesian voivodeship: 502 occupationally active persons and 100 registered as unemployed in the District Employment Bureau located in Katowice. The ‘unemployed’ had a better quality of life in somatic and psychological domain. Moreover, respondents who were unsatisfied with their job had the quality of life in all domains poorer than the ‘unemployed’. Furthermore, the poor quality of life among the occupationally active persons was correlated with the lack of physical activity, low degree of job satisfaction, low average income and low education level. Then, the poor quality of life among the ‘unemployed’ was correlated mainly with bad financial standing and low satisfaction of personal relationships.

CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results confirmed that the level of quality of life and health status of the young inhabitants of the Silesian voivodeship significantly depends on work conditions. The observation indicating better health status and quality of life among unemployed should be extended by detailed identification study to determine its underlying factors