A recent study reveals that self-employed women have fewer risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) than their non-self-employed counterparts. This suggests that the work environment may influence the development of factors that contribute to heart disease.
The research highlights a notable difference in health outcomes between genders, with self-employed women showing the most significant reduction in CVD risk. This may be because women are more likely than men to juggle work and home responsibilities, leading to higher stress and time constraints. In contrast, self-employed men of color did not see similar health benefits.
The study, led by Dr. Kimberly Narain, an assistant professor at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, is one of the few to use lab tests and physical measurements rather than self-reported data to assess the link between self-employment and heart disease risk factors. Dr. Narain, also the director of health services research at the UCLA Women’s Health Center, noted that this is the first study to examine these factors across gender and racial/ethnic groups.
“Our findings suggest that the link between self-employment and heart disease risk is stronger in women than in men,” Dr. Narain said. “Understanding how work environments impact our health is crucial for creating healthier workplaces.”
The study will be published in the peer-reviewed journal BMC Public Health.
Methodology and Key Findings
Previous research has linked employment structure to cardiovascular health, with executives often showing better outcomes than those in clerical or administrative roles. High-stress jobs with little autonomy have been tied to conditions like hypertension and CVD. However, many studies rely on self-reported data, which can be unreliable due to recall bias.
For this study, researchers analyzed data from 19,400 working adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). They examined the connection between self-employment and various CVD risk factors, including elevated cholesterol, hypertension, obesity, poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking, and mental health issues. Using more reliable biological and physical measures, the study focused on sex, race, and ethnicity.
The researchers found several positive associations between self-employment and lower CVD risk factors:
- For White Women:
- 7.4% reduction in obesity
- 7.0% reduction in physical inactivity
- 9.4% reduction in poor sleep duration
- For Women of Color:
- 6.7% reduction in poor diet
- 7.3% reduction in physical inactivity
- 8.1% reduction in poor sleep duration
- For White Men:
- 6.5% reduction in poor diet
- 5.7% reduction in hypertension
However, the study did not find similar benefits among self-employed minority men. The researchers suggest that these men often face high barriers to entering and sustaining a business, including limited financial resources and access to mentorship, which may prevent them from experiencing health benefits.
Limitations and Future Research
Due to the study’s cross-sectional design, the researchers caution that no direct causal conclusions can be made. The study also could not account for personality traits or coping mechanisms that may influence both the choice to be self-employed and the development of CVD risk factors. Additionally, the study did not distinguish between those who chose self-employment and those who were forced into it due to external factors like job loss.
Dr. Narain’s team included Daniela Markovic and Dr. Jose Escarce from UCLA. The research was funded by the Leichtman-Levine-TEM Mentorship in Women’s Health Research and the Tides Foundation.
This study offers new insights into the health implications of self-employment, particularly for women, and underscores the need for healthier work environments across all sectors.
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