July 1, 2014 - John D. Meyer, MD, MPH, of Icahn-Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, and Miriam Mutambudzi, PhD, MPH, of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, studied the relationship between occupation and AUDs in workers followed up from early adulthood to middle age. The study focused on the "substantive complexity" of work as an indicator of work trajectory—whether individuals were progressing in their careers in terms of factors such as decision latitude and expanded work abilities.
Based on factors such as drinking more than intended or unsuccessful attempts to cut down on drinking, AUDs were initially present in about 15 percent of men and 7.5 percent of women. Lower work trajectory was linked to a higher rate of AUDs—both initially and during follow-up. For both men and women, AUD rates were decreased with higher work trajectory.
But even men though had higher AUD rates, the association between AUD and flat or downward occupational trajectory appeared stronger in women. In contrast, higher education was more strongly associated with lower AUD risk in men.
Together with previous reports, the study suggests that "declining occupational trajectory is a consequence of AUD development," rather than a predictor. However, the link between AUDs and occupation appears to be "complex and reinforcing," Drs Meyer and Mutambudzi write. They add that women's career paths "may be more readily disrupted" by AUDs, compared to men's.
About the Author
Dr. Meyer may be contacted for interviews at john.meyer (at) mssm.edu
About ACOEM
ACOEM, an international society of 4,500 occupational physicians and other health care professionals, provides leadership to promote optimal health and safety of workers, workplaces, and environments.
About Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine is the official journal of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Edited to serve as a guide for physicians, nurses, and researchers, the clinically oriented research articles are an excellent source for new ideas, concepts, techniques, and procedures that can be readily applied in the industrial or commercial employment setting.
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Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine