Lower Heart Attack Risk in Self-Employed Women Compared to Salaried Peers

Recent research indicates that women who are self-employed may have a notably lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to women with traditional salaried jobs. The study, published in BMC Public Health, analyzed data from over 19,400 adults using biological and physical measures rather than relying solely on self-reported health information, providing more reliable insights into the connection between employment type and heart health.

The findings revealed that self-employed women tend to have fewer risk factors associated with heart disease, such as obesity, physical inactivity, and poor sleep duration. Specifically, white women who are self-employed experienced a 7.4% reduction in obesity rates, a 7.0% decrease in physical inactivity, and a 9.4% improvement in sleep quality. Similar health benefits were observed among women of color, including decreased poor diet, physical inactivity, and sleep issues.

Interestingly, these positive associations were not as evident among self-employed men of color, possibly due to differences in business stability, financial capital, and access to mentorship, which can influence health outcomes.

The research utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and focused on biological markers such as cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, avoiding potential biases of self-reported data. Lead author Dr. Kimberly Narain highlighted that the relationship between self-employment and reduced CVD risk appears to be particularly strong in women.

The study emphasizes the importance of understanding how the work environment influences health and highlights that factors like job control, work-related stress, and social determinants play crucial roles in cardiovascular health. The authors caution that, due to the cross-sectional nature of the study, causality cannot be established, and unmeasured variables like personality and coping mechanisms may also impact outcomes.

Overall, the findings suggest that empowering women in flexible employment arrangements could be beneficial in reducing heart disease risk factors. Future research should investigate causal relationships and explore how specific work-related factors can be optimized to promote cardiovascular health.

Source: [https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-employed-women-significantly-heart-salaried.html]