Background: We document in the present study the relation between unemployment and the prevalence of health problems and risk behaviour in France.
Methods: Using data from the 1991-1992 French National Health Survey, adjustments are made for potential confounders, and relative risks (RR) are estimated for overweight, major physical diseases, depression, and addictive behaviours.
Results and conclusion: Unemployed men are found to have significantly higher prevalences of depression (RR: 2.6), smoking (RR: 1.5 for regular and 1.7 for heavy), heavy drinking (RR: 1.7) and consumption of psycho-active drugs (RR: 3.6) than the working population.