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The Impact of Unemployment On Psychosomatic Symptoms and Mental Well-Being

Author

Listed:
  • Heimo Vnamäki

    (Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, PO Box 1777, SF-70211 Kuopio, Finland)

  • Kaj Koskela

    (Public Health, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, PO Box 197, SF-00531 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Leo Niskanen

    (Department of Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, PO Box 1777, SF-70211 Kuopio, Finland)

Abstract

The relationship between psychosomatic symptoms and mental well-being among unemployed (N = 132) and employed (N = 187) personnel of two similar wood-processing factories was studied. Mental well-being was measured by means of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-score) and the 13-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-score). The 13-item questionnaire assessing psychosomatic symptoms was used (PS-score). The 33 and 66 percentiles (tertiles) were formed on the basis of PS-score of the two groups separately. The highest PS-score percentile was compared with the combined first and second percentile. Higher PS-score implied impaired mental well-being especially in the unemployed but also in the control group. Insufficient social support and uncertainty about the future was associated with highest PS-score in the study group but not in the control group. High PS-score was associated with subjective mental problems in both groups. Impaired health and PS-score were associated in both groups. Our results suggest that unemployment is a powerful external stress factor and that psychosomatic symptoms were associated with impaired mental well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Heimo Vnamäki & Kaj Koskela & Leo Niskanen, 1993. "The Impact of Unemployment On Psychosomatic Symptoms and Mental Well-Being," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 39(4), pages 266-273, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:39:y:1993:i:4:p:266-273
    DOI: 10.1177/002076409303900403
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Brenner, Sten-Olof & Levi, Lennart, 1987. "Long-term unemployment among women in Sweden," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 25(2), pages 153-161, January.
    2. Hall, Ellen M. & Johnson, Jeffrey V., 1988. "Depression in unemployed Swedish women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 27(12), pages 1349-1355, January.
    3. Jennings, Susan & Mazaik, Cheryl & McKinlay, Sonja, 1984. "Women and work: An investigation of the association between health and employment status in middle-aged women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 19(4), pages 423-431, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Venetoklis, Takis & Ervasti, Heikki, 2006. "Unemployment and Subjective Well-being: Does Money Make a Difference," Discussion Papers 391, VATT Institute for Economic Research.

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