Distinguishing groups and exploring health differences among multiple job holders aged 45 years and older

Abstract

Purpose To identify distinct groups of older multiple job holders and to explore health differences between these groups. Methods We selected respondents from STREAM, a Dutch cohort study among persons aged 45 years and older, who reported having multiple jobs (N = 702). We applied latent class analysis to identify groups of multiple job holders. The association between these groups and health, measured with the SF-12, was studied cross-sectionally and longitudinally (1 year of follow-up), using linear regression analyses. Results Four groups of older multiple job holders were identified: (1) a vulnerable group (N = 145), who preferred having one job, and had jobs with high demands and low resources; (2) an indifferent group (N = 134), who did not experience many benefits or disadvantages of multiple job holding (MJH); (3) a satisfied hybrid group, who were all self-employed in their second job (N = 310); and (4) a satisfied combination group, who all had a second job as an employee (N = 113). Both the satisfied hybrid and satisfied combination groups preferred MJH and experienced benefits of it. At baseline, the vulnerable group experienced significantly lower physical and mental health than the other groups. We found no significant differences regarding changes in health after 1 year. Conclusions Four groups of older multiple job holders could be distinguished. The vulnerable group experienced lower physical and mental health at baseline than the other three groups. Policies and interventions supporting vulnerable multiple job holders may need to be developed. Future research is recommended to take heterogeneity among multiple job holders into account.

Multiple-job holding is not a type of precarious employment

“…Furthermore, the vulnerable multiple-job holders more often reported low autonomy and a relatively high percentage of these workers reported that their household was short of money. Cross-sectional analyses showed that the vulnerable group, on average, experienced worse physical and mental health than the three other groups of multiple-job holders (9). In contrast to this vulnerable group of multiple-job holders, other groups of multiple-job holders experienced benefits from holding multiple jobs (9).…”

Authors' response to "Multiple-job holding is not a type of precarious employment"

“…Some part-time workers are precarious although many are not. And as the authors of the letter has shown in their own study; some multiple job holders are precarious while some are not (7).…”

Health differences between multiple and single job holders in precarious employment in the Netherlands: A cross-sectional study among Dutch workers

“…temporary contracts and low job control. These vulnerable multiple job holders experienced worse physical and mental health than the other three groups [17].…”

“…To do so, we will study whether differences in health exist between combination multiple job holders and hybrid multiple job holders on the one hand, and single job holders on the other hand? Distinguishing these groups is important since previous research has suggested that combination multiple job holders are overrepresented in groups of multiple job holders that experienced lower physical and mental health [17]. In addition, hybrid MJH may provide employees with better opportunities to combine jobs, e.g.…”

“…with respect to combining work schedules [20]. Because previous research has shown that women are overrepresented in groups of workers who have multiple jobs for financial reasons [17], and that having a financial reason for MJH is associated with worse mental health [15] we tested interaction terms between MJH and gender and between MJH and household financial situation.…”