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The Role of Unemployment and Job Insecurity for the Well-Being of Young Europeans: Social Inequality as a Macro-Level Moderator

Author

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  • Kadri Taht

    (Tallinn University)

  • Despoina Xanthopoulou

    (School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)

  • Lia Figgou

    (School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)

  • Marialena Kostouli

    (School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)

  • Marge Unt

    (Tallinn University)

Abstract

The aim of the current paper was to investigate the moderating role of both objective and subjective country-level social (income) inequality on the relationship between employment status and well-being. The focus was on young Europeans (aged 16–29) and a multilevel perspective with individuals nested within 28 countries was adopted. Based on conservation of resources theory, the central hypothesis was that labor market (LM) insecurity will be particularly detrimental for young Europeans’ well-being in countries characterized by high (vs. low) inequality. The results showed that unfavorable LM positions indeed impair young Europeans cognitive (i.e., life satisfaction) and affective (i.e., negative affect) well-being. We found support for the moderating role of both objective (i.e. the income share held by the lowest 10% of the country) and perceived social inequality on the relationship between employment status and life satisfaction. Namely, the negative relationship between unfavorable LM conditions (and particularly job insecurity) and youth well-being tended to be weaker or nonexistent in more equal societies. Our findings highlight the important role of social (income) inequality, both objective and perceived, in understanding the conditions under which unemployment and job insecurity may be particularly detrimental for young individuals’ well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Kadri Taht & Despoina Xanthopoulou & Lia Figgou & Marialena Kostouli & Marge Unt, 2020. "The Role of Unemployment and Job Insecurity for the Well-Being of Young Europeans: Social Inequality as a Macro-Level Moderator," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(7), pages 2355-2375, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:21:y:2020:i:7:d:10.1007_s10902-019-00184-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-019-00184-w
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    3. Micael Dahlen & Helge Thorbjørnsen, 2022. "Individuals’ Assessments of Their Own Wellbeing, Subjective Welfare, and Good Life: Four Exploratory Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-10, September.
    4. Marja Hult & Minna Kaarakainen & Deborah De Moortel, 2023. "Values, Health and Well-Being of Young Europeans Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-22, March.
    5. Lewańczyk, Agata Marta & Langham-Walsh, Eleanor & Edwards, Lisa & Branney, Peter & Walters, Elizabeth R. & Mitchell, Paul & Vaportzis, Eleftheria, 2023. "Back Onside protocol: A physical activity intervention to improve health outcomes in people who are unemployed or at risk of unemployment," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    6. Scheuring, Sonja & Voßemer, Jonas & Baranowska-Rataj, Anna & Tattarini, Giulia, 2021. "Does Fixed-Term Employment Have Spillover Effects on the Well-Being of Partners? A Panel Data Analysis for East and West Germany," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 22(7), pages 3001-3021.
    7. Wen Fan & Yue Qian, 2023. "State Contexts, Job Insecurity, and Subjective Well-being in the Time of COVID-19," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(6), pages 2039-2059, August.
    8. Elvisa Drishti & Zamira Shkreli & Edvin Zhllima & Blendi Gerdoçi, 2023. "Deprivation, Social Mobility Considerations, and Life Satisfaction: A Comparative Study of 33 European Countries," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 65(3), pages 511-550, September.
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