The Impact of Multidimensional Social Exclusions on Atypical Worker’s Self-rated Health and Depression: Comparative Analysis with Typical Worker

Abstract

Atypical worker have been excluded in many ways from economy, housing, health, social relations, and labor opportunities. However, few studies have empirically tested the relationship between multidimensional social exclusions and health. In this respect, this study aims to identify the relationship between multidimensional social exclusions and atypical worker’s health, focusing on their self-rated health and depressive symptoms. In particular, this study longitudinally examine the impact of employment status and multidimensional social exclusions on self-rated health and depressive symptoms. The data contains a total of 2,585 typical and atypical workers drawn from the Korean Welfare Pane l(2006 - 2016). Among the findings of the data analysis is that atypical workers’ self-rated health has not changed to a significant extent, while their depressive symptoms have substantially decreased over time. In addition, initial gaps in self-rated health and depressive symptoms between typical and atypical workers tend to slowly decline over time. Finally, results from the model including multidimensional social exclusions presented that unmet health care needs and job satisfaction significantly predicted self-rated health in baseline. For the intercept of depressive symptoms, economic satisfaction, housing, family relations, job satisfaction, unpaid health insurance and unmet health care needs were significant predictors. However, multidimensional social exclusions did not significantly predict the rate of changes in self-rated health and depressive symptoms. Based on these findings, this paper discussed how to reduce the impact of multidimensional exclusions for better health of atypical workers.