Involuntary temporary employment could negatively affect women more than men

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-12-01 06:00

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Long-term involuntary temporary employment – having a temporary contract but wanting a permanent position – could have negative effects on women, but not so much men, according to Danish research.  The team combined survey data with administrative data about use of prescription drugs for anxiety and stress, including over 9,000 men and women in full-time, temporary employment, and over 147,000 in permanent employment. The team found temporary contracts did not appear to negatively affect mental health in the short term, however after 18 months, there was a 12.8% increase in mental health drug prescriptions for women which continued even after leaving the involuntary temporary employment. While this kind of study can’t prove cause-and-effect, the team says the findings show different patterns for men and women, as well as different magnitudes of effect, and future research could continue to explore these differences for temporary employment.