JOB INSECURITY AND HEALTH: A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH 

Minerva Medicolegale 2014 September;134(3):171-6

Copyright © 2014 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

A psyhoneuroendocrinoimmunological approach to job insecurity-induced stress

Gianotti L. ^{1, 2}

¹ Struttura Complessa di Endocrinologia, Diabetologia e Metabolismo, ASO S. Croce e Carle, Cuneo, Italia; ² Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università Torino, Torino, Italia

Extensive research provides evidence that psychosocial stressors increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, myocardial infarction, atherosclerotic disease and stroke as well as metabolic diseases and mental diseases. Among psychosocial stressors, job-related stressors have received considerable research attention. The association between unemployment and raised morbidity and mortality is known and a recent meta-analysis provides high level evidence of a modest link also between job insecurity and risk of ischemic heart disease. In this article we summarized most recent evidences regarding the psychoneuroendocrinoimmunological aspects of stress-related illness, in particular cardiovascular, metabolic and mental diseases. We concluded that, as job insecurity is likely to persist for many years in association with a slow and uneven recovery from recession, and thereafter will appear at least cyclically as it has for many decades, it would be important that health professionals, employers, and governments should be aware of the health consequences of job uncertainty to take effective steps to mitigate the risks and provide adequate resources and support to those affected.