Rev Esp Salud Publica. 2026 Jan 23;100:e202601003.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The study analyzed how job precariousness affects the mental health of workers and the role of age in this relationship. Despite extensive research on job precariousness and mental health, few studies have addressed the multidimensionality of job precariousness or its differential impact by age.
METHODS: The research was carried out in the Valencian Community with a hundred participants. An online questionnaire with the EPRES scale was used to measure job precariousness and the GHQ-12 to assess mental health. Correlation and linear regression analyses were performed.
RESULTS: Significant statistical correlations were found between mental health and various dimensions of job precariousness: wages (r=0.444), vulnerability (r=0.530), rights (r=0.307) and capacity to exercise rights (r=0.340). Global precariousness correlated with mental health problems (r=0.429). Age showed a negative correlation with global precariousness (r=-0.389) but not with mental health. Only wages (f=4.810) and vulnerability (f=20.425) showed explanatory ability. The interaction between wages and age was significant (f=3.997). The impact of wage precariousness on mental health was greater in the young and almost nonexistent in the elderly.
CONCLUSIONS: Job precariousness negatively affects the mental health of workers. Specific dimensions such as wages and vulnerability have a significant impact. Wage precariousness affects young people more, suggesting that age moderates this impact, with mental health of young people being more vulnerable to wage precariousness.
PMID:41574850
