Relationship of employment status to mental health and family variables in Black men from single-parent families.

Abstract

Unemployment and underemployment have been related to a host of physical and mental health problems. In a follow-up study of young black men reared in female headed families, subjects were grouped in employment categories of superachievers, average, underemployed, and unemployed. Employment status was related to social adjustment and current life experiences ratings. Superachievers felt more competent, had higher aspirations, and were more satisfied with their lives than members of other groups. Longer father presence in the home was associated with more successful employment, as was a highly educated mother. Socioeconomic differences between the groups were slight and did not account for any direct or indirect effects. Strongest predictors of employment status were high school grades and length of father presence. Age, mother's age, and family income during the preschool and high school years also entered into the predictive equation. 386This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly.

Tourette syndrome and employment: Descriptors, predictors, and problems.

“…The evidence that approximately one in five of the Canadian TS respondents perceived themselves as experiencing some form of job discrimination due to TS is one possible explanation for the rates of unemployment, underemploy ment and job dissatisfaction found in the current sample of adults with TS. As in the general population, the detri mental effects of psychosocial and inter personal difficulties on the ability to find and keep work may also be impor tant (Daniels, 1986). Many individuals with TS experience behavioral, psy chosocial and interpersonal difficulties (Champion et al, 1988;Erenberg et al, 1987;Singer & Rosenberg, 1989), and these associated features of TS, such as mood swings, poor modulation of anger, aggressiveness, and problems in teracting with others may contribute to the inability to find and maintain em ployment let alone find and maintain employment commensurate with one's education.…”

The Dilemmas of the African American Male

“…Studies have shown a positive correlation between unemployment and suicide, mistrust, anxiety, and other mental and physical health problems (Daniels, 1986). Because of the high rates of mental and physical problems, effects of unemployment and underemployment on African American males are magnified (Daniels, 1986;Staples, 1986a).…”

“…Because of the high rates of mental and physical problems, effects of unemployment and underemployment on African American males are magnified (Daniels, 1986;Staples, 1986a). It is clear that the economic resources and social stability of the African American male will be enhanced if their employment rates are increased (Claude, 1986).…”

Social Science Literature Concerning African American Men

“…(2) the microsocial level, which links the lack of nuclear family structure and father absence with specific aspects of Black male dysfunction such as early sexual activity and pregnancy, lower levels of employment and academic achievement, higher levels of estrangement, lower self-concept, and problems in other aspects of mental health (Bronfenbrenner, 1967;Daniels, 1986;Glenn & Kramer, 1987;Jemmott & Jemmott, 1992;Phillips & Asbury, 1990;Sweet, 1987;Weller & Luchterhand, 1974;Young, Jensen, Olsen, Cundick, 1991). A sizeable literature disputes the link between non-nuclear family structures and Black male problems.…”