Income, Time Constraints, and Health Investment Decisions: An Empirical Analysis Using the Grossman Health Demand Model in Education, Health, and Other Sectors

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of income and time constraints on individual health investment behavior and health outcomes across three employment sectors: Education, Health, and Other income-generating sectors. Drawing on the Grossman health demand model, the research conceptualizes health as both a consumption and investment good, where resources and available time determine the quantity and quality of health investment. A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was employed, collecting data from 300 respondents using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 26, employing descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, multiple regression, mediation analysis, ANOVA, and graphical visualizations. The findings reveal that higher income levels positively influence health investment behavior, whereas time constraints negatively affect it. Health investment behavior, in turn, significantly improves health outcomes, partially mediating the relationship between income and health. Sectoral differences indicate that Health sector employees achieve the highest health investments and outcomes, followed by Education, while Other sectors lag behind. These results validate the Grossman model predictions and highlight the critical role of economic resources and temporal availability in health capital accumulation. Policy implications emphasize the need for income-based interventions, time management strategies, and sector-specific health education to enhance preventive health practices and equity across sectors. The study contributes to understanding how socioeconomic and temporal factors jointly influence health decisions and provides actionable insights for policymakers and organizations to improve workforce health.