Coping With Unemployment: Relationships Between Duration of Unemployment, Coping Styles, and Subjective Well‐Being

Abstract

The present study examined whether the association between duration of unemployment and impairment in emotional and physical well‐being is mediated by a change in the general pattern of coping responses. A cross‐sectional study with 119 unemployed participants found that (1) duration of unemployment is associated with a decrease in productive coping and an increase in nonproductive coping and that (2) the association between duration of unemployment and somatic complaints is mediated by an increase in nonproductive coping. Further results showed that neuroticism and mood regulation expectancies were meaningfully related to productive and nonproductive coping. These results are discussed within the framework of theories of self‐regulation.

Health literacy: the missing link in improving the health of Somali immigrant women in Oslo

“…A previous study in Norway associated immigrants’ high level of integration and employment with a good mental health status [45]. Similarly, prior studies demonstrated a clear association between refugees’ unemployment and worse health outcomes [46, 47]. Others pointed out that immigrants who have jobs and skills are healthier than those who have not, and those who are socially integrated are healthier than those who do not [48].…”

Configurations of unemployment, reemployment, and psychological well-being: A longitudinal study of unemployed individuals in Portugal

“…Although a person's sense of well-being is typically influenced by many factors such as marital status and financial circumstances, being unemployed and continuing to be unemployed has been shown to be a major contributor to reduced selfassessments of general well being and psychological and physical health (e.g. Langens & Mose, 2006, McKee-Ryan et al, 2005, Rowley & Feather, 1987, Warr & Jackson, 1984. Re-employed individuals, in contrast, show that gaining employment after a period of unemployment has a marked positive effect on self-rated health and overall quality of life (e.g., Schuring, Mackenbach, Voorham, & Burdorf, 2011).…”

“…Moreover, psychological well-being has been defined and measured in a variety of ways, with many researchers relying primarily on Goldberg's (1978) General Health Questionnaire (e.g. Backhans & Hemmingsson, 2011, Broomhall & Winefield, 1990, Ensminger & Celentano, 1990, while others (e.g., Langens & Mose, 2006) used combinations of measures to separately assess cognitive and affective components of psychological well-being including the Positive and Negative Affect Scales (PANAS; Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988).…”

“…The impact of unemployment on the psychological health and well-being of individuals, their families, and their communities has been the subject of numerous studies over the years (e.g. Åslund, Starrin, & Nilsson, 2014, Backhans & Hemmingsson, 2011, Broomhall & Winefield, 1990, Gathergood, 2013, Langens & Mose, 2006, McKee-Ryan, Song, Wanberg, & Kinicki, 2005, Tiggemann & Winefield, 1984. There are significant differences, however, in the social, economic, and political context of unemployment in the 21st century when compared to unemployment during recessions late in the 20th century.…”

Psychological Dimensions of Unemployment: A Gender Comparison Between Belgian and South African Unemployed

“…However there might be a vast difference between being short-term and long-term unemployment. Several researchers found that the duration of unemployment is associated with 1) a decrease in productive coping and an increase in non-productive coping (Langens & Mose, 2006), 2) an increase in negative affect and somatic complaints (McKee-Ryan et al, 2005) and 3) impairments in emotional well-being (Harnish, Aseltine, & Gore, 2000). Future research should make a distinction between short-term unemployment (1 year or less), long-term unemployment (1 year or more) and very long-term unemployment (2 years or more).…”