Abstract
BACKGROUND: Work-related injury is a substantial public health problem among emerging adult workers (EAWs) with inordinate physical, emotional, economic, and social costs. Little is known about the relationships between work-injury, employment experience, life health risks (LHRs) or the developmental and social context of EAWs. Even less is known about the employment needs for low socioeconomic status (LSES) EAWs with heightened vulnerabilities due to the multidimensional disadvantages of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were to describe LSES EAWs in an urban area and to explore factors associated with work-related injury. Factors included sociodemographic characteristics, ACEs, positive youth developmental (PYD) assets, LHRs, and employment experience.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study, using a convenience sample (n = 134, 88% response rate) was conducted using primary data collection (interviews) and secondary data from electronic health records. A pilot study (n = 7) was used to test instruments and questionnaire wording. FINDINGS: Fifty-one percent reported work-related injuries, and 43% reported health problems made worse by work. Multivariable, simultaneous, logistic regression revealed the following predictors of work injury: having higher ACE scores (OR = 1.19, p = .037), being non-Latino White (OR = 4.09, p = .004), and being a past smoker (OR = 4.26, p= .037), when
controlling for all other variables including age, smoking status, employment experience, and drug and alcohol use. EAWs were satisfied with workplace training, but seemed unaware of what constituted a workplace injury or to whom these incidents should be reported.
CONCLUSION: Greater childhood adversity is associated with work-related injury. Further research is needed to better understand EAWs with ACEs and to identify appropriate support for them. Education for employers and healthcare providers about the special needs of EAWs, particularly those with greater ACES, is needed, and interventions targeting LSES EAWs during their transition to adulthood are crucial to assure healthy and safe work environments for them. And overarching goals for this group are to reduce occupational health disparities, promote occupational wellness, develop a healthy emerging workforce, and improve surveillance of occupational health issues in primary care settings especially among underserved populations.
