Abstract:In Japan, workers with precarious employment, most notably hourly and dispatched workers, had a lower rate of health check-ups compared with full-time workers in permanent positions.
“…A previous study in Japan suggested that working conditions could improve chances of visiting a doctor. These conditions include flexibility of work schedule, autonomy at work, and shorter working hours 29) . Another study found that self-employed women in Japan often work in family businesses and may not have the job control or autonomy their male counterparts have 30) .B ecause of comparably less flexibility and autonomy in the work setting, self-employed female workers may tend to refrain from seeking medical services.…”
Objectives: There is limited evidence on the relationship between labor factors and the decision to refrain from seeking medical services. This study aimed to examine how labor factors are related to medical service access among male and female workers in Tokyo and surrounding areas. Methods: We used data from 4,385 respondents to the survey in the Japanese Study on Stratification, Health, Income, and Neighborhood (J-SHINE), an ongoing epidemiologic household panel study. Surveys from 2010 to 2011 were analyzed. The outcome variable was whether or not an individual refrained from seeking medical services. Labor factors included employment type (permanent, temporary, or self-employed), company size (<100, 100-1,000, or >1,000 employees) and occupation type (white-collar, blue-collar). Results: We included a total of 2,013 people after excluding those with missing data (analysis utilization: 45.9%). After adjusting covariates, we found that men working in small companies were more likely to refrain from seeking medical services than were those in medium or large companies (adjusted prevalence ratio [PR]: 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04-1.37). Among women, however, those in self-employment (PR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.08-1.77) and blue-collar employment (PR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.04-1.47) were more likely to refrain than were those classified as permanent or white-collar workers. Conclusions: The relationship between labor factors and refraining from seeking medical services differed among men by company size, and among women by employment type and occupation type.
“…A previous study in Japan suggested that working conditions could improve chances of visiting a doctor. These conditions include flexibility of work schedule, autonomy at work, and shorter working hours 29) . Another study found that self-employed women in Japan often work in family businesses and may not have the job control or autonomy their male counterparts have 30) .B ecause of comparably less flexibility and autonomy in the work setting, self-employed female workers may tend to refrain from seeking medical services.…”
Objectives: There is limited evidence on the relationship between labor factors and the decision to refrain from seeking medical services. This study aimed to examine how labor factors are related to medical service access among male and female workers in Tokyo and surrounding areas. Methods: We used data from 4,385 respondents to the survey in the Japanese Study on Stratification, Health, Income, and Neighborhood (J-SHINE), an ongoing epidemiologic household panel study. Surveys from 2010 to 2011 were analyzed. The outcome variable was whether or not an individual refrained from seeking medical services. Labor factors included employment type (permanent, temporary, or self-employed), company size (<100, 100-1,000, or >1,000 employees) and occupation type (white-collar, blue-collar). Results: We included a total of 2,013 people after excluding those with missing data (analysis utilization: 45.9%). After adjusting covariates, we found that men working in small companies were more likely to refrain from seeking medical services than were those in medium or large companies (adjusted prevalence ratio [PR]: 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04-1.37). Among women, however, those in self-employment (PR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.08-1.77) and blue-collar employment (PR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.04-1.47) were more likely to refrain than were those classified as permanent or white-collar workers. Conclusions: The relationship between labor factors and refraining from seeking medical services differed among men by company size, and among women by employment type and occupation type.
“…In addition, non‐regular workers are more likely to report poorer health conditions and less frequent health check‐ups than regular workers (Inoue et al. ). In a similar vein, Kachi, Otsuko and Kawada's (, 465) study found that:precarious employment is associated with double the risk of serious psychological distress incidence among middle‐aged Japanese men and – when stratified by marital status – among unmarried women.…”
Section: The Impact Of Non‐standard Employmentmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Some part-time workers earn as little as 60% of that earned by regular workers and do not receive training, pension contributions or unemployment insurance (Coe, Johns and Ward 2011). In addition, non-regular workers are more likely to report poorer health conditions and less frequent health check-ups than regular workers (Inoue et al 2012). In a similar vein, Kachi, Otsuko and Kawada's (2014, 465) study found that: precarious employment is associated with double the risk of serious psychological distress incidence among middle-aged Japanese men andwhen stratified by marital statusamong unmarried women.…”
A key trend in the development of the global economy is the informalisation of employment. A number of studies have emerged that capture the growth and characteristics of non‐standard employment in Japan and South Korea as two major world economies that are experiencing relative decline in growth. However, limited is understood in the role of institutional actors in shaping the labour markets and how these two neighbouring countries may, despite similarities, differ in terms of forms of non‐standard employment and the institutional and cultural reasons that underpin the differences. This review study fills part of the gap by providing a systematic analysis of changes in the labour market in Japan and South Korea, the role of institutional actors in shaping the informal labour market, patterns of non‐standard employment and its impacts on individual workers as well as the development of the labour market. The paper concludes that informalisation has led to the decline of job quality on a relatively large scale in these two countries and that a greater level of state intervention is necessary to maintain workforce well‐being and economic sustainability.
“…Moreover, female non-regular workers were more likely to be smokers compared to regular workers, even with adjustment for socioeconomic status and household income7 ) . Non-regular workers also had less access to the preventive health care11 ) .…”
Section: Findings From Previous Studies: Associations Between Non-regmentioning
The participation of women in the Japanese labor force is characterized by its M-shaped curve, which reflects decreased employment rates during child-rearing years. Although, this M-shaped curve is now improving, the majority of women in employment are likely to fall into the category of non-regular workers. Based on a review of the previous Japanese studies of the health of non-regular workers, we found that non-regular female workers experienced greater psychological distress, poorer self-rated health, a higher smoking rate, and less access to preventive medicine than regular workers did. However, despite the large number of non-regular workers, there are limited researches regarding their health. In contrast, several studies in Japan concluded that regular workers also had worse health conditions due to the additional responsibility and longer work hours associated with the job, housekeeping, and child rearing. The health of non-regular workers might be threatened by the effects of precarious employment status, lower income, a lower safety net, outdated social norm regarding non-regular workers, and difficulty in achieving a work-life balance. A sector wide social approach to consider life course aspect is needed to protect the health and well-being of female workers’ health; promotion of an occupational health program alone is insufficient.
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