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Unemployment and psychiatric distress: Social resources and coping

Author

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  • Ensminger, Margaret E.
  • Celentano, David D.

Abstract

Unemployment is viewed as one of the more stressful of life events that an adult can experience. Job loss leads to decreased social status, disrupts family and social roles, produces financial strain, and loss of self esteem, all of which have detrimental consequences for mental health. We studied psychiatric symptoms in 269 unemployed adults with dependent children in Baltimore; one-half of the sample had returned to work 1 year following unemployment. A comparison group of 92 community residents who were continuously employed were also interviewed. Using a stressful life events perspective, we examined three models of how life events relate to psychiatric distress suggested by Dohrenwend and Dohrenwend [1. Social Status and Psychological Disorder: A Causal Inquiry. Wiley, New York, 1969. 2. Am. J. commun. Psychol.9, 128, 1981]. Our results support an 'additive burden' model of the stress process, which also shows recovery in mental health functioning upon subsequent reemployment. We suggest that the models tested did not take into account the meaning of the life event in terms of failure and that this meaning may influence its impact on psychological distress.

Suggested Citation

  • Ensminger, Margaret E. & Celentano, David D., 1988. "Unemployment and psychiatric distress: Social resources and coping," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 27(3), pages 239-247, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:27:y:1988:i:3:p:239-247
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    Cited by:

    1. Jinhee Kim & Benoit Sorhaindo & E. Garman, 2006. "Relationship between Financial Stress and Workplace Absenteeism of Credit Counseling Clients," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 27(3), pages 458-478, September.
    2. Bruce C. Martin & Benson Honig, 2020. "Inclusive Management Research: Persons with Disabilities and Self-Employment Activity as an Exemplar," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 166(3), pages 553-575, October.
    3. Mo-Yeol Kang & Hyoung-Ryoul Kim, 2014. "Association between Voluntary/Involuntary Job Loss and the Development of Stroke or Cardiovascular Disease: A Prospective Study of Middle-Aged to Older Workers in a Rapidly Developing Asian Country," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(11), pages 1-13, November.
    4. Liu, Chuanlan & Black, William C. & Lawrence, Frances C. & Garrison, M.E. Betsy, 2012. "Post-disaster coping and recovery: The role of perceived changes in the retail facilities," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 65(5), pages 641-647.
    5. Nasheeta Peer & Carl Lombard & Krisela Steyn & Naomi Levitt, 2020. "A high burden of adverse life events and poor coping mechanisms experienced by urban-dwelling black South Africans," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(9), pages 1-11, September.

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