The fear of losing a job boosts first-time asthma risk, according to a recent study.

Researchers found that among those who believed that they were very likely to lose their job the risk of asthma rose to 60 percent compared with those who thought job loss was unlikely or non-existent.

The findings back up other epidemiological studies pointing to a link between the development of asthma and stress, particularly work related stress.

For the study, researchers collected and analyzed data from more than 7,000 working adults who responded to the German Socio-Economic Panel Study -- an annual representative survey of the German population -- in 2009 and 2011, when questions about asthma were asked.

Between 2009 and 2011, 105 new cases of asthma were diagnosed among the survey group, half of whom were women. Those who felt that the likelihood of losing their job over the next two years was high tended to be slightly younger, had reached a lower level of education, a lower monthly income, and were more likely to be single than those who felt the risk was low (2787) or non-existent (2593).

And those who didn't feel their tenure was secure were less likely to be on permanent contracts and more likely to have been diagnosed with depression.

After taking into account various sociodemographic factors, depression, and lifestyle, the analysis indicated that asthma risk seemed to rise with increasing job insecurity. For every 25 percent increase in the perceived threat of job loss, the risk of asthma rose by 24 percent.

Researchers said their results are "consistent with epidemiological studies, which have shown that psychological stress in particular work related stress, may be risk factors for new onset asthma."

The findings were published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.