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Increased Prevalence of Depression, Smoking, Heavy Drinking and Use of Psycho-Active Drugs among Unemployed Men in France

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Abstract

Background: We document in the present study the relation between unemployment and the prevalence of health problems and risk behaviour in France. Methods: Using data from the 1991–1992 French National Health Survey, adjustments are made for potential confounders, and relative risks (RR) are estimated for overweight, major physical diseases, depression, and addictive behaviours. Results and conclusion: Unemployed men are found to have significantly higher prevalences of depression (RR: 2.6), smoking (RR: 1.5 for regular and 1.7 for heavy), heavy drinking (RR: 1.7) and consumption of psycho-active drugs (RR: 3.6) than the working population.

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Khlat, M., Sermet, C. & Le Pape, A. Increased Prevalence of Depression, Smoking, Heavy Drinking and Use of Psycho-Active Drugs among Unemployed Men in France. Eur J Epidemiol 19, 445–451 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:EJEP.0000027356.71414.bd

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