How Does Unemployment Affect the Health-related Behavior of Japanese Men? A Panel Data Analysis

By using panel data, this study examines the effect of unemployment on various types of individual health-related behavior, namely physical exercise, dietary habits, smoking, drinking, and sleep duration among Japanese men aged 20 ?40 years. The results indicate that the effect of unemployment on health-related behavior varies. It is found that exercise habits and sleep duration are affected by unemployment, while there are no observed effects on dietary habits, smoking, and frequency of drinking. Being unemployed has positive effects on frequency of exercise and sleep duration. When an individual suffers from unemployment in two successive periods, he increases the frequency of exercise, while current unemployment directly affects sleep duration. The positive effects of unemployment on exercise and sleep are explained by the increased time in the health investment function.