Integrating nutrition and lifestyle: associations between employment type and health behaviors
- 1School of Business Administration, Xinjiang University of Science and Technology , ,
- 2Rattana Bundit University , ,
- 3INTI International University , ,
Abstract
Introduction: Health and well-being are associated with socioeconomic conditions, nutrition, and lifestyle behaviors. Although self-employment has become increasingly prevalent in developing economies, its implications for health remain unclear, particularly through nutrition- and lifestyle-related pathways. This study examines the associations between employment arrangements and self-rated health, dietary diversity, and lifestyle behaviors in Thailand, with particular attention to dietary behaviors.
Methods: Data were drawn from the Thailand Health and Welfare Survey. Ordered probit models and an instrumental variable approach were employed to examine the associations between self-employment and self-rated health, dietary diversity, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Heterogeneity across types of self-employment was also assessed by distinguishing employer self-employed individuals from solo self-employed workers.
Results: Self-employment was associated with lower self-rated health and lower dietary diversity, indicating less varied diets. Self-employed individuals also exhibited less favorable lifestyle behaviors, including lower physical activity and higher probabilities of smoking and alcohol consumption. These associations varied by type of self-employment. Employer self-employed individuals tended to maintain healthier behaviors and better health outcomes, whereas solo self-employed workers were more vulnerable to lower dietary diversity and adverse health conditions.
Discussion: The findings indicate that employment type is an important structural factor associated with nutrition, lifestyle behaviors, and health inequalities. Policies aimed at improving population health should integrate labor-market interventions with nutrition- and lifestyle-oriented strategies, with particular attention to vulnerable groups of solo self-employed workers.
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BibTeX
@article{yao2026integrating,
title = {{Integrating nutrition and lifestyle: associations between employment type and health behaviors}},
author = {Kai Yao and Wei Chen and Chenxi Bao and Yujie Shi},
journal = {Frontiers in nutrition},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fnut.2026.1889959},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13719413},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Integrating nutrition and lifestyle: associations between employment type and health behaviors
AU - Kai Yao
AU - Wei Chen
AU - Chenxi Bao
AU - Yujie Shi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/16
JO - Frontiers in nutrition
DO - 10.3389/fnut.2026.1889959
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13719413
AB - Introduction: Health and well-being are associated with socioeconomic conditions, nutrition, and lifestyle behaviors. Although self-employment has become increasingly prevalent in developing economies, its implications for health remain unclear, particularly through nutrition- and lifestyle-related pathways. This study examines the associations between employment arrangements and self-rated health, dietary diversity, and lifestyle behaviors in Thailand, with particular attention to dietary behaviors. Methods: Data were drawn from the Thailand Health and Welfare Survey. Ordered probit models and an instrumental variable approach were employed to examine the associations between self-employment and self-rated health, dietary diversity, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Heterogeneity across types of self-employment was also assessed by distinguishing employer self-employed individuals from solo self-employed workers. Results: Self-employment was associated with lower self-rated health and lower dietary diversity, indicating less varied diets. Self-employed individuals also exhibited less favorable lifestyle behaviors, including lower physical activity and higher probabilities of smoking and alcohol consumption. These associations varied by type of self-employment. Employer self-employed individuals tended to maintain healthier behaviors and better health outcomes, whereas solo self-employed workers were more vulnerable to lower dietary diversity and adverse health conditions. Discussion: The findings indicate that employment type is an important structural factor associated with nutrition, lifestyle behaviors, and health inequalities. Policies aimed at improving population health should integrate labor-market interventions with nutrition- and lifestyle-oriented strategies, with particular attention to vulnerable groups of solo self-employed workers.
SN - 2296-861X
ER -