Background: Research on complicated grief (CG) symptoms following job loss is surprisingly rare. Involuntary job loss can turn someone's world upside down and can result in loss of identity, social contacts, and selfworth. In this study, we drew on the literature on major life events in conceptualizing involuntary job loss as a significant and potentially devastating life event. Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate an instrument that measures job loss-related CG symptoms, the Job Loss Grief Scale (JLGS). The purpose of the JLGS is to foster systematic research on CG symptoms following job loss. Design: A cross-sectional study Methods: We recruited Dutch workers who had lost their job, 130 men and 158 women with an average age of 49.6 years. To examine the psychometric properties of the JLGS and its associations with other concepts we conducted correlational and confirmatory factor analyses. Results: CFA revealed that the JLGS was a one-dimensional instrument, and that CG symptoms were distinguishable from depression and anxiety symptoms. Conclusion: The JLGS is a reliable and valid instrument to measure job loss-related CG symptoms. The availability of the JLGS could stimulate systematic research on the antecedents and consequences of involuntary job loss.

Increasing evidence shows that job loss can lead to symptoms of complicated grief (CG). However, little is known about which factors relate to the development and maintenance of CG symptoms following job loss. This study aimed to examine risk factors for the development and maintenance of job loss‐related CG symptoms. For this study 485 Dutch workers who had lost their job were recruited (239 men and 246 women), with an average age of 50.2 years. A subsample of 128 participants also completed questionnaires at a six‐month follow‐up. We conducted correlational and multiple regression analyses (MRA) to examine the influence of the former work situation, coping strategies, and negative cognitions on job loss‐related CG symptoms. MRA results showed that belief in an unjust world was related to job loss‐related CG symptoms, cross‐sectionally and longitudinally. Further, there was a significant relationship between CG symptoms following job loss and a preference for maladaptive coping over adaptive coping styles and a low level of self‐esteem. This effect remained stable over time. These findings can inform the development of interventions for and early detection of job loss‐related CG symptoms.

Background: Research on grief, depression, and anxiety reactions following job loss is sparse. More insight in this matter could be important for the development of preventive and curative interventions targeting different manifestations of emotional distress following job loss, including grief reactions. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine job loss-related grief reactions in relation to depression and anxiety symptoms. Method: A sample of 525 Dutch workers (59.8% women, mean age of 50.6 years) who had lost their job was recruited. Latent class analysis was used to examine whether separate classes could be distinguished based on the endorsement of grief reactions and symptoms of depression of anxiety. We also examined factors associated with class membership. Results: Four classes were identified, including a so-called 'mixed', a 'grieving', a 'depressed', and a 'resilient' class. Job loss circumstances and coping strategies (but not socio-demographic and work characteristics) were associated with class membership. Conclusion:These results shed light on unique characteristics that might be targeted with specific clinical methods to increase mental health of different subgroups of individuals confronted with job loss. Reacciones de duelo, depresión y ansiedad luego de la pérdida del empleo: patrones y correlatosAntecedentes: La investigación acerca de las reacciones de duelo, depresión y ansiedad luego de la pérdida del empleo es escasa. Una mayor profundización en esta área podría ser importante para el desarrollo de intervenciones preventivas y curativas dirigidas a las diferentes manifestaciones del sufrimiento emocional que ocurre luego de la pérdida del empleo, incluyendo las reacciones de duelo. Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue examinar las reacciones de duelo asociadas a la pérdida del empleo en relación a síntomas de depresión y ansiedad. Método: Se reclutó una muestra de 525 trabajadores holandeses (59,8% mujeres, edad promedio de 50.6 años) que perdieron su empleo. Se utilizó análisis de clases latentes para examinar si se podían distinguir clases separadas basándose en la confirmación de reacciones de duelo y síntomas de depresión y ansiedad. También examinamos factores asociados con la pertenencia a las clases. Resultados: Se identificaron cuatro clases, que incluyeron una clase llamada 'mixta', una 'en duelo', una 'deprimida' y una 'resiliente'. Las circunstancias de la pérdida del empleo y las estrategias de afrontamiento (pero no las características del empleo ni las sociodemográficas) se asociaron con la pertenencia a las clases. Conclusión: Estos resultados revelaron las características únicas que podrían ser blanco de métodos clínicos específicos para mejorar la salud mental de los diferentes subgrupos de personas que enfrentan la pérdida del empleo.

Objective Involuntary job loss can lead to symptoms of complicated grief (CG), depression, and anxiety. Information about the temporal linkage between these symptoms is limited and may have implications for the treatment of those suffering from mental health complaints after dismissal. The aim of this study was to explore the possible reciprocal relationships between symptoms of CG, depression, and anxiety following involuntary job loss. Method We recruited 128 Dutch workers who had lost their job within the past 12 months, including 72 males and 56 females with an average age of 49.8 (SD = 9.0) years. They completed questionnaires tapping CG, depression, and anxiety symptoms at baseline (Time 1) and a 6‐month follow‐up (Time 2). Several cross‐lagged panel models were compared. Results Our analyses indicated that CG symptom severity following job loss at Time 1 predicted depression at Time 2, but not vice versa. Similar results were found for job loss‐related CG and anxiety symptoms. Conclusions Symptom‐levels of CG following job loss predict later depression and anxiety symptoms more strongly than vice versa. This implies that screening and targeting job loss‐related CG symptoms with early interventions might protect individuals from developing depression or anxiety symptoms after their dismissal.

Negative cognitions following job loss can contribute to emotional distress by motivating individuals to adopt coping styles that reduce stress in the short run while obstructing adjustment in the long run. It is unclear which specific cognitions are related to symptoms of complicated grief, depression, and anxiety following job loss. To fill this gap, this study introduces the Beliefs about Loss of Work (BLOW) scale and examines its psychometric properties. We recruited 222 Dutch workers who had lost their job, including 70 men and 152 women, with an average age of 52.5 years. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that a second-order eight-factor model had the best fit to the data. The BLOW scale is a reliable instrument with a good convergent and divergent validity. This instrument may stimulate research on mechanisms involved in job loss-related distress and could inform the development of interventions to reduce this distress.

In a significant minority of people, involuntarily job loss can result in symptoms of job loss-related complicated grief (JLCG). The present cognitive-behavioral framework is introduced to explain the underlying processes that may lead to the development and maintenance of JLCG symptoms. Three core processes play a central role, namely (1) negative cognitions related to the job loss and misinterpretation of one's grief reactions; (2) anxious and depressive avoidance strategies to cope with the job loss and its consequences; and (3) insufficient integration of the job loss into the autobiographical memory. These core processes are assumed to interact and reinforce each other, leading to JLCG symptoms. The three core processes can be influenced by certain risk factors, including circumstances surrounding the loss, personality traits, and characteristics of the social environment. JLCG symptoms can lead to additional psychological and practical problems, such as anxiety and depressive symptoms, lower employability, and reduced likelihood of re-employment. This paper explains and illustrates the three core processes with vignettes. Implications of the model for preventive measures and psychological interventions are introduced. It concludes with suggestions for future research on JLCG symptoms.

The present study aimed to examine whether day‐level engagement in non‐work activities can mitigate the adverse outcomes of job loss. Based on Jahoda's latent deprivation model, we hypothesized that engaging in such activities (e.g., meeting others) can fulfil five basic needs (e.g., need for time structure) and that fulfilment of these needs mitigates the negative consequences of job loss. A diary study was conducted on five consecutive days among 236 participants who had involuntarily lost their job, yielding 1046 daily measures of the time spent on activities, the evaluation of these activities, and emotional distress. Multilevel regression analyses showed that time spent on daily activities was associated with the degree of fulfilment of the basic needs and emotional distress, yet the effect sizes were small. Perceived utility of these daily activities showed more solid effect sizes with the basic needs and emotional distress. However, the mediation effect of the basic needs regarding the association between activities and emotional distress could not be confirmed. The present results suggest that, in addition to stimulating individuals who experience job loss‐related emotional distress to undertake certain activities, the evaluation of these activities should also be taken into account in tailor‐made interventions and preventive measures.

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