Causal effects of alcohol and mental health problems on employment outcomes University of Glasgow

This project, led by the University of Glasgow, aims to improve understanding of the relationships between mental health problems and employment outcomes to establish the value of strategies to maintain good mental health in society.

Mental health issues such as depression and alcohol-related problems are a major burden of illness in the UK. In contrast to many physical health problems, mental health conditions particularly affect the working age population, which in turn impacts on the UK economy.

Mental health disorders are now the most common reason for receiving sickness and disability benefits and are linked to worklessness and adverse social outcomes. However, the causal relationship remains unclear.

This project involves analysing data collected from over half a million people as part of the UK Biobank study. It is using genetic information to better understand the social consequences of several health conditions (obesity, smoking, alcohol and depression). The team is also carrying out analysis of qualitative data from interviews with people with mental health problems.

Key findings

• The obesity analysis has demonstrated that while higher BMI is associated with a number of adverse employment outcomes, the predominant effect is that it increases how many people are not working due to sickness or disability. This suggests that health investments which mitigate illness caused by obesity, or which prevent obesity, are likely to have broad economic benefits. Similar relationships were found in the analysis for depression, again highlighting the importance of adequate treatment and prevention.
• The alcohol analysis found that alcohol use disorder is strongly associated with all non-employment categories examined: higher deprivation, lower work hours, lower educational attainment and lower household income. The analysis also suggested that alcohol use disorder increases the risk of experiencing deprivation.
• Interviews with people who have mental health problems showed that employment can be both emotionally beneficial and damaging. Many of those interviewed reported that their experiences of the welfare system lead to their health getting worse and make returning to paid employment more difficult.
• Work is continuing on analysing linked health-welfare data, through combining data from the Department for Work and Pensions and NHS Scotland.

Contact information

For more information about this project, please contact Vittal Katikireddi, Professor of Public Health and Health Inequalities, University of Glasgow.

Learn more

Mental health, welfare conditionality & employment support: Policy recommendations & key findings

Working Paper: Lived experiences of mental health problems and welfare conditionality

Analysis protocol for: Constructions of mental health and problematic alcohol use within UK’s health and welfare policy

Effects of depression on employment and social outcomes: a Mendelian randomisation study

Effects of increased body mass index on employment status: a Mendelian randomisation study

The causal effects of health conditions and risk factors on social and socioeconomic outcomes: Mendelian randomization in UK Biobank