Bentley University, Department of Economics, 175 Forest St., Waltham, MA 02452, USA.
Soc Sci Med. 2012 Jan;74(2):254-62. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.10.005. Epub 2011 Nov 20.
As economic expansions raise employment and wages, associated shifts in income and time constraints would be expected to also impact individuals' health. This study utilizes information from the US Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (1990-2009) to explore the relationship between the state unemployment rate and the consumption of various healthy and unhealthy foods in the United States. Estimates, based on fixed effects methodologies, indicate that unemployment is associated with reduced consumption of fruits and vegetables and increased consumption of "unhealthy" foods such as snacks and fast food. Heterogeneous responses are also identified through detailed sample stratifications and by isolating the effect for those predicted to be at highest risk of unemployment based on their socioeconomic characteristics. Among individuals predicted to be at highest risk of being unemployed, a one percentage point increase in the resident state's unemployment rate is associated with a 3-6% reduction in the consumption of fruits and vegetables. The impact is somewhat higher among younger, low-educated, and married adults. Supplementary analyses also explore specific mediating pathways, and point to reduced family income and adverse mental health as significant channels underlying the procyclical nature of healthy food consumption.
随着经济扩张提高了就业和工资水平，收入和时间限制的相关变化预计也会对个人健康产生影响。本研究利用美国行为风险因素监测系统（1990-2009 年）的数据，探讨了美国各州失业率与各类健康和不健康食品消费之间的关系。基于固定效应方法的估计表明，失业与水果和蔬菜消费减少以及零食和快餐等“不健康”食品消费增加有关。通过详细的样本分层和隔离那些根据其社会经济特征预测处于失业高风险人群的影响，也确定了异质反应。在那些预测处于失业高风险的个体中，居民州的失业率每增加一个百分点，水果和蔬菜的消费就会减少 3-6%。这种影响在年轻、受教育程度低和已婚成年人中略高。补充分析还探讨了具体的中介途径，并指出家庭收入减少和心理健康不良是健康食品消费顺周期性的重要渠道。
