SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AMONG UNEMPLOYED YOUTH IN KAZAKHSTAN: HOW ECONOMIC DISPARITY AFFECTS QUALITY OF LIFE
Objectives. Both globally and in Kazakhstan, youth unemployment remains a problem contributing to social, economic and health inequalities. This study aimed to assess the social determinants of health among unemployed youth in Kazakhstan, with a specific focus on how economic inequality influences their quality of life. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study design was employed using the Quality of Life, Enjoyment, and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q) among unemployed and employed youth aged 18–29. Statistical analyses, including the Mann-Whitney test and multiple regression, were conducted. Results. Unemployed youth reported significantly lower overall quality of life compared to employed youth (U=36878.5, Z=-3.472, p=0.001). Key determinants of quality of life included financial well-being, marital status, and perceived governmental support. Regression analysis revealed that financial well-being, marital status, and perceived governmental support were significant predictors of quality of life, with the model explaining 58% of the variance (R²=0.582). Conclusion. Youth unemployment in Kazakhstan is strongly associated with reduced quality of life, which is affected by economic inequality and limited social support. Addressing financial insecurity and strengthening state and community support systems are important for improving the well-being of unemployed youth.
Samal B. Duisekova - PhD, associate research professor of the department of Public health and management, Astana Medical University, Astana, Kazakhstan. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7644-145X, duisekova.s@amu.kz
Mereilim M. Gaisina - Master of Public Health, Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Astana, Kazakhstan https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5829-4008 mereilim.gaisina@nu.edu.kz
Margulan U. Uazhanov - PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Public Health and Management, NJSC "Astana Medical University", Astana, Kazakhstan, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7075-3716 uazhanov.m@amu.kz
Sekenova K. Raushana - PhD, Associate Research Professor of the Department of Public Health and Management, NJSC "Astana Medical University", Astana, Kazakhstan, ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7533-160X sekenova.r@amu.kz
Dauletova Sh. Gaukhar- PhD, Associate Research Professor of the Department of Public Health and Management, NJSC "Astana Medical University", Astana, ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1621-8149 dauletova.g@amu.kz
Corresponding author:
Kamila M. Akhmetova Doctoral student of 1 year, Public Health Education Programme, NJSC "Astana Medical University", Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan
Postal code: Republic of Kazakhstan, 071400, Semey city, Abay Street 103.
E-mail: kamikhudaiberdina@gmail.com Akhmetova.km@amu.kz
Phone: +7 707 138 92 29
1. Horvath T., Leoni T., Reschenhofer P., Spielauer, M. Socio-economic inequality and healthcare costs over the life course - A dynamic microsimulation approach. Public health, 2023. 219, 124–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2023.04.001
2. Kumar R., Paswan B. Changes in socio-economic inequality in nutritional status among children in EAG states, India. Public health nutrition, 2021. 24(6), 1304–1317. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980021000343
3. Maleki A., Faghihzadeh E., Youseflu S., Barjasteh, S.Z. Socio-economic inequalities in health-related quality of life among Iranian young people in the middle stage of adolescence: application of Health Equity Assessment Toolkit. BMC pediatrics, 2023. 23(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-022-03815-z
4. Wanberg C.R. (2012). The individual experience of unemployment. Annual review of psychology, 63, 369–396. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-120710-100500
5. OECD (2017), Building Inclusive Labour Markets in Kazakhstan: A Focus on Youth, Older Workers and People with Disabilities, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264273023-en.
6. Serikbayeva B. Education-job mismatch in the labor market of Kazakhstan: implications for public policy. Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Public Policy. 2022. URL: https://nur.nu.edu.kz/handle/123456789/8231
7. Von Wachter T. The persistent effects of initial labor market conditions for young adults and their sources. Journal of Economic Perspectives. 2020. 34:168–194. doi: 10.1257/jep.34.4.168. [DOI]
8. Vancea, M., Utzet, M. How unemployment and precarious employment affect the health of young people: A scoping study on social determinants. Scandinavian journal of public health, 2017. 45(1), 73–84. https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494816679555
9. Gajewski, P., & Zhukovska, K. (2017). Short-run and long-run effects of unemployment on suicides: does welfare regime matter? European journal of public health, 27(6), 1038–1042. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckx180
10. World Health Organization. (n.d.). Proportion of young people aged 15–24 years not in education, employment, or training. URL: https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details/proportion-of-young-people-aged-15-24-years-not-in-education-employment-or-training
11. World Bank. (n.d.). World development indicators: Youth not in education, employment, or training (NEET). URL: https://databank.worldbank.org/metadataglossary/world-development-indicators/series/SL.UEM.NEET.FE.ZS
12. International Labour Organization. (2024). Global employment trends for youth 2024. International Labour Office. URL: https://www.ilo.org/publications/major-publications/global-employment-trends-youth-2024
13. Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan. On State Youth Policy: adopted on 9 February 2015, No. 285-V ZRK (as amended on 07.07.2020). https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs . 05.10.2020.
14. Stauder J. (2019). Unemployment, unemployment duration, and health: selection or causation? The European journal of health economics: HEPAC: health economics in prevention and care, 20(1), 59–73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-018-0982-2
15. Broomhall H.S., Winefield A.H. A comparison of the affective well-being of young and middle-aged unemployed men matched for length of unemployment. The British journal of medical psychology, 1990. 63 (Pt 1), 43–52. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8341.1990.tb02855.x
16. Norström F., Waenerlund A.K., Lindholm L., Nygren R., Sahlén K.G., Brydsten A. Does unemployment contribute to poorer health-related quality of life among Swedish adults? BMC public health, 2019. 19(1), 457. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6825-y
17. Zhao Y., Zhou Z., Fan X., Nawaz R., Zhao D., Xu T., Su M., Cao D., Shen C., & Lai S. Comparison of inequity in health-related quality of life among unemployed and employed individuals in China. BMC public health, 2021. 21(1), 52. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-10038-3
18. Norström F., Virtanen P., Hammarström A., Gustafsson P.E., Janlert U. How does unemployment affect self-assessed health? A systematic review focusing on subgroup effects. BMC public health, 2014. 14, 1310. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-1310
19. Roos E., Lahelma, E., Saastamoinen P., & Elstad J.I. The association of employment status and family status with health among women and men in four Nordic countries. Scandinavian journal of public health, 2005. 33(4), 250–260. https://doi.org/10.1080/14034940510005680
20. Marc Hooghe, Bram Vanhoutte, Wim Hardyns, Tuba Bircan, Unemployment, Inequality, Poverty and Crime: Spatial Distribution Patterns of Criminal Acts in Belgium, 2001–06, The British Journal of Criminology, Volume 51, Issue 1, January 2011, Pages 1–20, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azq067
21. Achdut N., Refaeli, T. Unemployment and Psychological Distress among Young People during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Psychological Resources and Risk Factors. International journal of environmental research and public health, 2020. 17(19), 7163. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197163
22. Nolte-Troha C., Roser P., Henkel D., Scherbaum, N., Koller G., Franke A.G. Unemployment and Substance Use: An Updated Review of Studies from North America and Europe. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2023.11(8), 1182. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11081182
23. Jørgensen M.B., Pedersen J., Thygesen L.C., Lau.C.J., Christensen A.I., Becker U., Tolstrup, J.S. Alcohol consumption and labour market participation: a prospective cohort study of transitions between work, unemployment, sickness absence, and social benefits. European journal of epidemiology, 2019. 34(4), 397–407. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-018-0476-7
24. Yokobori Y., Kiyohara H., Mulati N., Lwin K.S., Bao T.Q.Q., Aung M.N., Yuasa.M., Fujita, M. Roles of Social Protection to Promote Health Service Coverage among Vulnerable People toward Achieving Universal Health Coverage: A Literature Review of International Organizations. International journal of environmental research and public health, 2023. 20(9), 5754. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20095754
25. Artazcoz L., Benach J., Borrell C., Cortès I. Unemployment and mental health: understanding the interactions among gender, family roles, and social class. American journal of public health, 2004. 94(1), 82–88. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.94.1.82
Количество просмотров: 21
Категория статей:
Оригинальное исследование
Библиографическая ссылка
Duisekova S., Gaisina M., Akhmetova K., Uazhanov M., Sekenova R.K., Dauletova G.Sh. Social Determinants of Health Among Unemployed Youth in Kazakhstan: How Economic Disparity Affects Quality of Life // Nauka i Zdravookhranenie [Science & Healthcare]. 2025. Vol.27 (3), pp. 79-87. doi 10.34689/SH.2025.27.3.009Похожие публикации:
EPIDEMIOLOGY, RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION, AND MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES OF CHRONIC HEART FAILURE IN KAZAKHSTAN: A NATIONAL RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS
PREVALENCE OF POLYMORPHISMS IN WARFARIN METABOLISM-RELATED GENES AMONG THE KAZAKH POPULATION
NEUROLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS IN EXTRACORPOREAL MEMBRANE OXYGENATION: RISK FACTORS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACUTE CEREBROVASCULAR EVENTS
THE EFFECT OF REPAGLINIDE AND METFORMIN ON EXTERNAL RESPIRATORY FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES AND ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE ASSOCIATED WITH OBESITY
RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF PATIENTS WITH OBLITERATING ATHEROSCLEROSIS OF THE LOWER EXTREMITY ARTERIES IN THE ABAI REGION OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN