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Job loss and the mental health of spouses and adolescent children

Author

Listed:
  • Melisa Bubonya

    (University of Melbourne)

  • Deborah A. Cobb-Clark

    (University of Sydney
    University of Queensland
    Institute of Labor Economics (IZA))

  • Mark Wooden

    (University of Melbourne
    Institute of Labor Economics (IZA))

Abstract

Panel data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey are used to examine the impact of involuntary job loss on the mental health of spouses and adolescent children. Estimates from fixed effects models show that the mental health of women (but not men) declines following a spouse’s job loss, but only if that job loss results in a sustained period of non-employment or if the couple experienced prior financial hardship or relationship strain. A negative effect of parental job loss on the mental health of adolescent children is also found but is restricted to girls. JEL Classification: I31, J10, J65

Suggested Citation

  • Melisa Bubonya & Deborah A. Cobb-Clark & Mark Wooden, 2017. "Job loss and the mental health of spouses and adolescent children," IZA Journal of Labor Economics, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 6(1), pages 1-27, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:izalbr:v:6:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1186_s40172-017-0056-1
    DOI: 10.1186/s40172-017-0056-1
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Unemployment; Involuntary job loss; Mental health; Families; Spouses; Adolescents; HILDA Survey;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General
    • J65 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings

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