Clark Hailey, Ravesteijn Bastian, Mullen Kathleen J, Maestas Nicole
Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115.
Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3062 PA, Netherlands.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Jun 10;122(23):e2413663122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2413663122. Epub 2025 Jun 3.
This research paper investigates the prevalence of functional limitations among employed adults in the United States and the association between these limitations and medical conditions. The authors administered a survey adapted from the Dutch to a nationally representative sample of US adults ages 22 and older, finding that nearly three-quarters of working adults report at least one functional limitation, with an average of nearly six functional limitations per working adult. The most common limitations were in upper body strength and torso range of motion, and with respect to the ambient environment. The study also found that mental illness, arthritis, and substance use disorder are associated with the greatest number of functional limitations in working adults. The findings have implications for economic performance, workforce planning, and social policies to support displaced and vulnerable workers with significant functional limitations. Identifying the occupations and industries with large numbers of workers with functional limitations is critical to addressing short-term labor supply disruptions (e.g., public health crises) and preparing for longer-term workforce needs (e.g., long-term care workers for an aging population).
本研究论文调查了美国就业成年人中功能受限的患病率以及这些受限与医疗状况之间的关联。作者对一份改编自荷兰的调查问卷进行了管理，该问卷针对年龄在22岁及以上的美国成年人全国代表性样本进行调查，发现近四分之三的在职成年人报告至少有一种功能受限，每位在职成年人平均有近六种功能受限。最常见的受限在于上身力量和躯干活动范围，以及周围环境方面。该研究还发现，精神疾病、关节炎和物质使用障碍与在职成年人中数量最多的功能受限相关。这些发现对经济表现、劳动力规划以及支持有严重功能受限的流离失所和弱势工人的社会政策具有影响。识别出功能受限工人数量众多的职业和行业对于应对短期劳动力供应中断（例如公共卫生危机）以及为长期劳动力需求（例如为老龄化人口提供长期护理的工人）做准备至关重要。
