The role of satisfaction with occupational status, neuroticism, financial strain and categories of experience in predicting mental health in the unemployed

Abstract

This study tests the contributions of the latent functions of employment (Latent Deprivation Model; Jahoda, 1981), the manifest functions of employment (Agency Restriction Model; Fryer 1986) and personality (trait Neuroticism) in accounting for psychological distress in the unemployed. Eighty-one unemployed individuals were assessed on measures of psychological distress (GHQ-12; Goldberg, 1972), the latent functions of employment (Activity, Time Structure, Social Contact, Status, Collective Purpose), Financial Strain, trait Neuroticism, and a measure of Labour MarketSatisfaction. It was shown that the latent functions of employment and Financial Strain were each able to contribute significantly to the prediction of psychological distress over and above that predicted by Neuroticism, which alone also contributed significantly to the prediction of distress. Results are related to the Latent Deprivation and Agency Restriction models of well-being and it is argued that temperament needs to be considered in any explanation of the negative psychological effects of unemployment.

Zeroing in on heroes: A prototype analysis of hero features.

“…Also, future research that is aimed at extending and Future research may also examine the role of individual differences in using heroes as a psychological resource. For instance, neuroticism is associated with lower tolerance for stress and aversive stimuli (Eysenck, 1967) and neurotic individuals show greater distress following negative life events (e.g., Creed, Muller, & Machin, 2001). If neurotic individuals are hesitant, vigilant, and nervous, it could be that they seek out heroes who show prototypical features of bravery, risk-taking, and willing to save and help others, to increase feelings of safety and security.…”

Workforce Participation Barriers for People With Disability

“…Previous studies in the United Kingdom (UK) and United States (US) have found labour force participation rates for people with disability are less than half the rate of participation for those without disability (Hale, Hayghe, & McNeil, 1998;Jones & Latreille, 2007;Kidd, Sloane, & Ferko, 2000;Roulstone & Warren, 2006). Significant literature highlights the fact that unemployment is detrimental to wellbeing, as is evidenced through reduced access to financial resources and decreased ability to meet psychological needs such as meaningful activity and social contact (Creed & Muller, 2006;Creed, Muller, & Machin, 2001;Fryer, 1986;Jahoda, 1982;Paul, Geithner, & Moser, 2009), with additional studies linking unemployment to both poor physical (Broom et al, 2006) and mental health (Murphy & Athanasou, 1999;Turner & Turner, 2004). People with disability earn significantly less compared to those without disability (Jones, 2008), and experience more underemployment.…”

Posttraumatic growth during unemployment: A qualitative examination of distress and positive transformation

“…Individuals with less money have increased difficulty in creating personally satisfying lifestyles, leading to greater psychological distress (Fryer & Payne, 1984). Numerous studies support this model by demonstrating that financial strain significantly predicts psychological distress (Creed & Macintyre, 2001;Creed, Muller, & Machin, 2001;McKee-Ryan, Song, Wanberg, & Kinicki, 2005). Jahoda (1981;1988) suggested that employment offers "latent benefits" apart from providing income and that distress arises when these latent benefits are removed due to job loss.…”