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Work Loss and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Bratsberg, Bernt

    (Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research)

  • Godøy, Anna

    (University of Oslo)

  • Hart, Rannveig Kaldager

    (Norwegian Institute of Public Health)

  • Raaum, Oddbjørn

    (Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research)

  • Reme, Bjørn-Atle

    (Norwegian Institute of Public Health)

  • Wörn, Jonathan

    (Norwegian Institute of Public Health)

Abstract

We study the impact of work loss on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Combining data on work loss and health care consultations from comprehensive individual-level register data, we define groups of employees delineated by industry, region, age, and gender. With these groups, we use a difference-in-differences framework to document significantly increased rates of consultations for psychological conditions among workers with higher exposure to work loss. The increases, and their persistence, were markedly higher for consultations in specialist (vs. primary) care, indicating that the deterioration of mental health was more than a widespread increase in lighter symptoms. Overall, our findings suggest that the economic disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the mental health of workers most exposed to loss of work.

Suggested Citation

  • Bratsberg, Bernt & Godøy, Anna & Hart, Rannveig Kaldager & Raaum, Oddbjørn & Reme, Bjørn-Atle & Wörn, Jonathan, 2023. "Work Loss and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IZA Discussion Papers 15913, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15913
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; layoffs; work loss; job loss; mental health;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J65 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings

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