Skip to main content
Log in

Psychological effects of prolonged unemployment: Relevance to models of work re-entry following injury

  • Published:
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The literature on the psychological and mental health effects of unemployment is reviewed in terms of its main effects and the factors that mediate its impact. Significant decrements in mental health for people of all ages are identified, with additional effects of prolonged unemployment, employment commitment, social relationships, gender, ethnic group, social class, local unemployment rate, and personal vulnerability. An integrative model is described and its applicability to models of adjustment to work-related disability is argued.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Jahoda M, Lazarsfeld PF, Zeisel H. Marienthal: The sociography of an unemployed community. London: Tavistock, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Jahoda M. Reflections on Marienthal and after. J Occup Org Psychol 1992; 65: 355–358.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Feuerstein M. A multidisciplinary approach to the prevention, evaluation and management of work disability. Y Occup Rehab 1991; I: 5–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Warr P, Jackson P, Banks MH. Unemployment and mental health: Some British studies. J Soc Iss 1988; 44: 47–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Wart P, Payne R. Experiences of strain and pleasure among British adults. Soc Sci Med 1982; 16: 1691–1697.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Goldberg DP. The detection of psychiatric illness by questionnaire. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Goldberg DP. Manual for the General Health Questionnaire. Windsor: National Foundation for Educational Research, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Banks MH. Validation of the General Health Questionnaire in a young community sample. Psychol Med 1983; 13: 349–353.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Banks MH, Jackson PR. Unemployment and risk of minor psychiatric disorder in young people: Cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence. Psychol Med 1982; 12: 789–798.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Banks MH, Ullah P. Youth Unemployment: Social and Psychological Perspectives. Department of Employment Research Papers No. 61, HMSO, London, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Banks MH, Ullah P. Youth unemployment in the 1980s: Its psychological effects. London: Croom Helm, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Banks MH, Clegg C, Jackson PR, Kemp NJ, Stafford EM, Wall TD. The use of the General Health Questionnaire as an indicator of mental health in occupational studies. J Occup Psychol 1980; 53: 187–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Stafford EM, Jackson PR, Banks MH. Employment, work involvement and mental health in less qualified young people. J Occup Psychol 1980; 53: 291–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Bradburn NM. The structure of psychological well-being. Chicago: Aldine, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Wart PB. A study of psychological well-being. Br J Psychol 1978; 69: 111–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Bebbington P, Hurry J, Tennant C, Sturt E, Wing JK Epidemiology of mental disorders in Camberwell. Psychol Med 1981; II: 561–580.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Branthwaite A, Garcia S. Depression in the young unemployed and those on Youth Opportunities Schemes. Br J Med Psychol 1985; 58: 67–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Donovan A, Oddy M. Psychological aspects of unemployment: An investigation into the emotional and social adjustment of school leavers. J Adolesc 1982; 5: 15–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Fineman S. White collar unemployment. Chichester: Wiley, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Furnham A. Mental health and employment status: A preliminary study. Br J Guid Counsel 1983; 11: 197–201.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Gaskell G, Smith P. “Alienated” Black youth: An investigation of “conventional wisdom” explanations. New Commun 1981; 9: 182–193.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Hepworth SJ. Moderating factors of the psychological impact of unemployment. J Occup Psychol 1980; 53: 139–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. McKenna SP, Fryer DM. Perceived health during lay-off and early unemployment. Occup Health 1984; 36: 201–206.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Melville DI, Hope D, Bennison D, Barraclough B. Depression among men made involuntarily redundant. Psychol Med 1985; 15: 789–793.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Miles I. Work, well-being and unemployment. In: Marstrand P, ed. New technology and the future of work and skills. London: Frances Pinter, 1984, pp. 93–102.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Oddy M, Donovan A, Pardoe R. Do government schemes for unemployed school-leavers achieve their objectives? J Adolesc 1984; 7: 377–385.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Stokes G, Cockrane R. A study of the psychological effects of redundancy and unemployment. J Occup Psychol 1984; 57: 309–322.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Warr PB, Jackson PR. Factors influencing the psychological impact of prolonged unemployment and of re-employment. Psychol Med 1985; 15: 795–807.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Wart PB, Parry G. Paid employment and women's psychological well-being. Psychol Bull 1982; 91: 498–516.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Westcott G. The effect of unemployment on the health of workers in a UK steel town: Preliminary results. In Westcott G, Sveusson PG, Zollner HFK, eds. Health policy implications of unemployment. Copenhagen: World Health Organization, 1985, pp. 261–271.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Jackson PR, Stafford EM, Banks MH, Wart PB. Unemployment and psychological distress in young people: The moderating role of employment commitment. J Appl Psychol 1983; 68: 525–535.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Wart PB, Jackson PR. Self-esteem and unemployment among young workers. Le Travail Humain 1983; 46: 355–366.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Payne RL, Jones JG. Social class and re-employment: Changes in health and perceived financial circumstances. J Occup Behav 1987; 8: 175–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Layton C. Employment, unemployment, and response to the general health questionnaire. Psychol Rep 1986; 58: 807–810.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Layton C. Externality and unemployment: Change score analyses on Rotter's locus of control scale for male school-leavers and men facing redundancy. Personal Ind Diff 1987; 8: 149–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Fryer DM, Wart PB. Unemployment and cognitive difficulties. Br J Clin Psychol 1987; 23: 67–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Wart PB, Jackson PR. Men without jobs: Some correlates of age and length of unemployment. J Occup Psychol 1984; 57: 77–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Payne RL, Warr PB, Hartley. Social class and psychological ill-health during unemployment. Soc Health Illness 1984; 6: 152–174.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Warr PB. Reported behaviour changes after job loss. Br J Soc Psychol 1984; 23: 271–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Warr PB, Payne RL. Social class and reported changes in behavior after job loss. J App Soc Psychol 1983; 13: 206–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Kilpatrick R, Trew K. Life-styles and psychological well-being among unemployed men in Northern Ireland. J Occup Psychol 1985; 58: 207–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Fagin L, Little M. The forsaken families: The effects of unemployment on family life. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Martin R, Wallace J. Women and unemployment: Activities and social contact. In Roberts B, Finnegan R, Gallie D, eds. New approaches to economic life. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1988, pp. 417–430.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Banks MH, Ullah P. Unemployment and less qualified urban youth: A longitudinal study. Emp Gazette 1986; 94: 205–210.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Watt PB, Jackson PR, Banks MH. Duration of unemployment and psychological well-being in young men and women. Curt Psychol Res 1982; 2: 207–214.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Warr PB, Banks MH, Ullah P. The experience of unemployment among Black and White urban teenagers. Br J Psychol 1985; 76: 75–87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Jackson PR, Warr PB. Unemployment and psychological ill-health: The moderating role of duration and age. Psychol Med 1984; 14: 605–614.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Breakwell GM, Harrison B, Propper C. Explaining the psychological effects of unemployment for young people: The importance of specific situational factors. British J Guid Counsel 1984; 21: 132–140.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Bolton W, Oatley K. A longitudinal study of social support and depression in unemployed men. Psychol Med 1987; 17: 453–460.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Wart PB, Jackson PR. Adapting to the unemployed role: A longitudinal investigation. Soc Sci Med 1987; 25: 1219–1224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Jackson PR, Walsh S. Unemployment and the family. In Fryer D, Ullah P, eds. Unemployed people. Milton Keynes: Open University Press, 1987, pp. 194–216.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Fryer DM, Payne RL. Proactivity in unemployment: Findings and implications. Leisure Stud 1984; 3: 273–295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Ullah P, Banks MH, Warr PB. Social support, social pressures and psychological distress during unemployment. Psychol Med 1985; 15: 283–295.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Roberts K, Duggan J, Noble M. Out-of-school youth in high unemployment areas: An empirical investigation. Br J Guid Counsel 1982; 10: 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Danie WW. A national survey of the unemployed. London: Political and Economic Planning Institute, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Hepworth SJ. Moderating factors of the psychological impact of unemployment. J Occup Psychol 1980; 53: 139–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Jackson PR. Personal networks, support mobilisation and unemployment. Psychol Med 1988; 18: 397–404.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Henwood F, Miles I. The experience of unemployment and the sexual division of labor. In Fryer D, Ullah P, eds. Unemployed people. Milton Keynes: Open University Press, 1987, pp. 94–110.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Wart PB. Work, unemployment and mental health. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Parry G. Paid employment, life events, social support, and mental health in working-class mothers. J Health Soc Behav 1986; 27: 193–208.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Wart FB, Parry G. Depressed mood in working class mothers with and without paid employment. Soc Psychiat 1980; 17: 161–165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Swinburne P. The psychological impact of unemployment on managers and professional staff. J Occup Psychol 1981; 54: 47–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Payne RL, Hartley J. A test of a model for explaining the affective experience of unemployed men. J Occup Psychol 1987; 60: 31–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. Dooley D, Catalano R, Rooke KS. Personal and aggregate unemployment and psychological symptoms. J Social Iss 1988; 44(4): 107–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Jackson PR, Wart PB. Mental health of unemployed men in different parts of England and Wales. BMJ 1987; 295: 525.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Platt S, Kreitman N. Parasuicide and unemployment among men in Edinburgh 1968–1982. Psychol Med 1985; 15: 113–123.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Elder GH, Caspi A. Economic stress in lives: Developmental perspectives. J Social Iss 1988; 44(4): 25–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. White M. Life stress in long-term unemployment. Policy Stud 1985, 5: 31–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Fryer DM, McKenna SP. The laying off of hands: Unemployment and the experience of time. In Fineman, ed. Unemployment: Personal and social consequences. Chichester: Wiley, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  70. Fitzgerald TE. Psyehosocial aspects of work-related musculoskeletal disability. In Quick JT, Murphy LR, Hurrell JJ, eds. Stress and well-being at work. Washington: American Psychological Association, 1992, pp. 117–133.

    Google Scholar 

  71. Waddell G, Pilowsky I, Bond MR. Clinical assessment and interpretation of abnormal illness behaviour in low back pain. Pain 1989; 39: 41–53

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Prochaska JO, DiClemente CC. Stages and processes of self-change of smoking: Towards an integrative model of change. J Consult Clin Psychol 1983; 51: 390–395.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Brodsky CM. Factors influencing work-related disability. In Myerson AT, Fine T, eds. Psychiatric disability: Clinica~ legal and administrative dimensions. Washington: American Psychiatric Association 1987, pp. 49–65.

    Google Scholar 

  74. Banks MH, Davies JB. Motivation, Unemployment and Employment Department Programmes. Employment Department Research Paper No. 80, HMSO: London, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  75. Pryor R, Hesketh B. Increasing flexibility and adaptability: Decision making in career counselling and rehabilitation. In Hesketh B, Adams A, eds. Psychological perspectives on occupational health and rehabilitation. Marrickville, NSW: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  76. Hesketh B, Westbrook F. Creating a motivating environment. In Hesketh B, Adams A, eds. Psychological perspectives on occupational health and rehabilitation. Marrickville, NSW: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  77. Marsh A, McKay S. Families, work and benefits. London: Policy Studies Institute, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  78. Ehrens B, Hedges B. Survey of incomes in and out of work. London: Social and Community Planning Research, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  79. Prescott-Clarke P. Employment and handicap. London: Social and Community Planning Research, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Banks, M.H. Psychological effects of prolonged unemployment: Relevance to models of work re-entry following injury. J Occup Rehab 5, 37–53 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02117819

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02117819

Key words

Navigation