Job-search preparedness as a mediator of the effects of the Työhön Job Search Intervention on re-employment and mental health

Abstract

SummaryPrevious studies that have demonstrated the beneficial effects of the Työhön Job Search Intervention for job seekers on re-employment and mental health have not revealed the specific mediators of these effects. The present study examined two specific mediators that were targeted by the intervention, job-search self-efficacy and inoculation against setbacks, as components of a global construct referred to as job-search preparedness. The hypothesis that job-search preparedness is the main mediator of the effects of the intervention on the outcomes was then tested using data from the 1261 participants of the Finnish Työhön Job Search Intervention study. ANOVA demonstrated that the Työhön intervention produced a significant increase in both job-search self-efficacy and inoculation against setbacks (both p < 0.001).Further structural equation modelling demonstrated that the intervention increased job-search preparedness ( ¼ 0.21, p < 0.001) which had statistically significant mediating effects on increasing re-employment ( ¼ 0.12, 0.10, p < 0.01, 0.05, respectively), and decreasing financial strain and depressive symptoms ( ¼ from À0.09 to À0.14, p < 0.01 to 0.001). Future studies should expand the conceptualization of job-search preparedness with assessment of job-search skills as an additional component. Copyright # 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. IntroductionA wide range of research shows that job loss and unemployment produce significant deterioration in mental health (see review by Fryer & Payne, 1986). The most common outcomes of unemployment are increases in anxiety, somatic symptoms, and symptoms of depression (Dooley, Catalano, & Wilson, 1994;Hamilton et al., 1990;Kessler et al., 1987;Warr et al., 1988). Moreover, there is some evidence that unemployment increases by over twofold the risk of onset of clinical depression (Dooley et al., 1994). In addition to the adverse effects of unemployment on mental health, there is research implicating unemployment as a contributor to other harmful outcomes (see review by Catalano, 1991). These outcomes include: suicide (Brenner, 1976), separation and divorce (Stack, 1981;Liem & Liem, 1988), child neglect and abuse (Steinberg, Catalano, & Dooley, 1981), alcohol abuse (Dooley, Catalano, & Hough, 1992;, violence in the workplace (Catalano, Dooley, Novaco, Wilson, & Hough, 1993), criminal behavior (Allan & Steffensmeier, 1989), and highway fatalities (Leigh & Waldon, 1991). Finally, there is some evidence, based primarily on self-report, that unemployment contributes to physical illness (Kessler et al., 1987). There are various intervention programs which aim at reducing the negative social and psychological impact of unemployment on displaced workers. Overwhelming evidence shows that re-employment reduces financial distress and depression symptoms and restores psycho-social functioning to pre-unemployment levels (Kessler, Turner, & House, 1989;Vinokur, Caplan, & Williams, 1987). Therefore, programs for unemployed workers should be aimed primarily at promoting and facil...

Effects of Career Choice Intervention on Components of Career Preparation

“…Consequently, on the basis of SCCT (Lent et al, 1994) and the previous research on interventions aimed at boosting career self-efficacy (Betz, 2007;Gainor, 2006) and preparedness (Koivisto et al, 2010;Vuori & Vinokur, 2005), we suggest that social learning in the TWL intervention workshops increases career choice preparedness. In turn, in line with SCCT, we suggest that the effect of learning experiences in the workshops on career planning attitude is partly direct and partly mediated by the increase in career choice preparedness (Betz & Borgen, 2000;Fouad & Smith, 1996;Lent et al, 1994Lent et al, , 2005.…”

Job search intention, theory of planned behavior, personality and job search experience

“…Some interventions already exist (Creed et al, 2001;Sterrett, 1998;Vuori and Vinokur, 2005), but they are either focused on job search selfefficacy, or else have been developed in other contexts (Armitage and Talibudeen, 2010).…”

With a little help of my peers. The supportive role of online contacts for the unemployed

“…Job search behaviour can be measured quantitatively and, increasingly, qualitatively (Van Hooft, Wanberg and van Hoye, 2013), and the predominant measurements include job search effort and intensity, which is defined as the general amount of energy and time devoted to the job search and the frequency of engaging in job search activities during a given time period. Social support has an indirect effect on job search behaviour by helping reduce the adverse effects of unemployment and helping maintain commitment to job searches (Blustein, Kozan & Connors-Kellgren, 2013, p. 262;Hanisch, 1999;Paul & Moser, 2009;Vinokur & Schul, 2002;Vuori & Vinokur, 2005). By applying these findings in the online context, we propose that online social support indirectly influences job search behaviour and that such behaviour is determined by job search selfefficacy.…”

“…Additional evidence from Saks (2006) suggests that formal sources may perform better and that informal sources may even have negative effects under certain circumstances. Thus, adapting measures for job search quality to the online sphere (i.e., Saks, 2005;Van Hooft & Noordzij, 2009;Van Hoye, Van Hooft, & Lievens, 2009;Vinokur & Schul, 2002;Vuori & Vinokur, 2005;Wanberg et al, 2002;Wanberg, Kanfer, & Banas, 2000) that increasingly complement more traditional measures of job search behaviour might provide interesting insights. Unfortunately, this study could not examine these measures and their application to the online space in detail, but we think that the concept offers interesting opportunities for further research in the online space.…”