Dissertation
Physical and mental well-being outcomes among individuals working multiple jobs
University of Iowa
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
Spring 2026
Abstract
Multiple jobholding (MJH) is a consistent characteristic of the U.S. workforce, with approximately 5%-10% of the working population working at least two jobs at the same time. Despite the steady prevalence of MJH over the last twenty years, little attention has been given to the impact MJH has on employee health and well-being. However, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting associations between MJH and adverse physical and mental health outcomes such as an increased risk for injury and injury severity, work-life conflict, and depression when compared to single jobholders (SJHs). Additional research has suggested variations in health outcomes within the MJH population as well, dependent on personal factors such as age and sex. Although previous epidemiologic examinations have accounted for demographic and work arrangement characteristics, a critical gap in the current understanding of the health effects of MJH is the lack of knowledge about the conditions of work and occupational exposures that multiple jobholders (MJHs) experience at their jobs. For example, the previously observed difference in rates of physical and mental health outcomes between MJHs and SJHs may be due to differential exposure to physical and psychosocial risk factors such as physically demanding work, job control, job demands, and safety culture. However, previous research has not been able to account for individual-level exposure information about their jobs. Thus, the aims of this study were to estimate the effect of jobholding status (JHS) on musculoskeletal pain, identify how MJH impacts mental health, and explore personal and work characteristics associated with poor health within the MJH population while including measures of physical and psychosocial demands at the primary job in analyses.A cross-sectional analysis of data from the General Social Survey’s (GSS) Quality of Worklife Module (QWL) was performed. Data were pooled from the years 2014, 2018, and 2022, which was the most recent administration of the QWL. Inclusion in the analyses required a participant to have (i) been working or with a job in the previous week, (ii) reported working in a non-military occupation, (iii) reported not having been laid off in the last year, and (iv) responded to the question “Do you have any jobs besides your main job or do any other work for pay?” (GSS variables: wrkstat, occ10, laidoff, secondwk).
After controlling for demographic characteristics, results from these studies indicate associations for a broader range of adverse physical and mental health outcomes by JHS. MJHs had greater odds of reporting musculoskeletal pain, upper extremity pain, and at least one day of poor mental health, compared to SJHs. Associations were robust across subgroups such as full-time workers, workers with primary job tenure ≥ 1 year, and workers aged 18-64. Physical demands at the primary job were not observed to be significantly different by JHS. Although MJHs observed no significant differences in exposure to physical demands at the primary job compared to SJHs, observed differences in exposure to psychosocial demands were present, specifically in the job demands domain of feeling overworked and having to work fast. Within MJHs, variability in the exposure-effect relationship was present, depending on the exposure of interest and the health outcome of interest. Exposure to psychosocially demanding work was frequently associated with poor health. Future studies should account for all jobs worked to better estimate total work exposure. Stratified analyses should be performed by age and sex to further explore how MJH impacts the health and well-being differently across demographics.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Physical and mental well-being outcomes among individuals working multiple jobs
- Creators
- Tyler Guzowski
- Contributors
- Nathan Fethke (Advisor)T. Renée Anthony (Committee Member)Diane Rohlman (Committee Member)Lucas Carr (Committee Member)Jonathan Davis (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Occupational and Environmental Health
- Date degree season
- Spring 2026
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- xiii, 122 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2026 Tyler Guzowski
- Language
- English
- Date submitted
- 04/28/2026
- Description illustrations
- illustrations (some color)
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (page 109-116).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
Between 5%-10% of United States workers hold more than one job at the same time each year. Despite how common working multiple jobs is, little research has examined what working multiple jobs does to a worker’s health. Using national survey data collected in 2014, 2018, and 2022, we compared the physical and mental health of workers with more than one job to workers with a single job. Additionally, we examined determinants of poor physical and mental health within multiple jobholders. Importantly, in addition to demographic information, we considered conditions of work such as the demands and overall workplace environment.
Compared to workers with one job, workers with multiple jobs were more likely to report general musculoskeletal pain, upper body pain, and days of poor mental health. Multiple jobholders experienced similar physical demands at work compared to single jobholders. However, multiple jobholders reported more frequently reported feeling overworked and having too fast of work compared to single jobholders.
Among multiple jobholders, characteristics of the primary job were associated with good health. Multiple jobholders with good physical and mental health consistently reported good fringe benefits and social support. Future research should consider the demands of not just the primary job, but all jobs worked. Information about all jobs can accurately describe the context in which work is performed. This approach will ensure that multiple jobholders can be considered when designing future research and workplace protection programs.
- Academic Unit
- Occupational and Environmental Health
- Record Identifier
- 9985177270202771
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