The effects of unemployment on the psycho‐social development of school‐leavers

Abstract

School‐leavers deal with important developmental tasks which are to some extent interwoven with the transition from school to the adult work world. But many school‐leavers are currently being denied work opportunities. This study used Erikson's notions of psycho‐social development to investigate the impact of unemployment on students leaving school and attempting to secure their first job. Those who found work, particularly girls, showed significant psycho‐social development while those who returned to school or were unemployed showed none.

The Psychological Impact of Unemployment in Spain

“…Finally, other studies focusing on the relationship between duration of unemployment and self-esteem have not found a significant association between these two variables García, 1985). These last results do not differ from those obtained by in Britain or Gurney (1980) in Australia.…”

“…Stafford et al, 1980;Banks et al, 1980), sense of identity (Gurney, 1980) and self-esteem ) has been stressed. Although the relationship between different measures of psychological well-being and the employment situation of married women has given contradictory results (see Warr and Parry, 1982), studies carried out by a number of researchers including Bebbington et al, 1981;Martin and Wallace, 1985;Nathanson, 1980;Heinemann et al, 1980, confirm the importance of employment to the mental health of women.…”

Factors influencing the impact of unemployment on mental health among young and older adults in a longitudinal, population-based survey

“…Twentytwo longitudinal studies that tested for preexisting differences between those who became unemployed (ie, selection effects) have assessed the psychological impact of unemployment among youth (26,27). Seven of the 22 studies did not find preexisting differences in psychological adjustment (28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34). However, most of the studies did find significant preexisting differences, youth who became unemployed reporting more depressed affect and lower self-esteem than those gaining employment.…”

Explanations for unemployment in Britain

“…Psychological studies on unemployment have, for the most part, concentrated on a limited range of psychological phenomena. These have included the psychological impact of unemployment on self-esteem, well-being and morale (Gurney, 1980;Harrison, 1976;Hartley, 1980;Wan, 1981); the relationship between unemployment and physical and psychological health Boor, 1980;Feather and Davenport, 1981;Stafford, Jackson and Banks, 1980), the psychological benefits of work which are denied to the unemployed (Jahoda, 1979;Pym, 1979;Marsden and Duff, 1975) and individual differences in the unemployed (Hartley, 1980;Huczynski, 1978). There have also been historical reviews of the research and literature on unemployment (Jahoda, 1981 ;Kelvin, 1980) criticisms of the research on unemployment (Gurney and Taylor, 1981; and suggestions for how psychologists might help the unemployed (Shepherd, 1981;Winfield, 1981).…”