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Unemployment as a source of mental distress to individuals and their family : unemployed parents perceptions during the economic recession
Publication . Frasquilho, Diana; Matos, Margarida Gaspar de; Santos, Teresa; Gaspar, Tânia; Almeida, J. M. Caldas de
Background: Due to the economic recession, several people in Europe became unemployed. This situation may risk their mental health.
Aim: This study explored parents’ perceptions about their unemployment’s effects in daily life during the recession.
Methods: A total of 59 unemployed parents (40.7% fathers and 59.3% mothers), ageing 44.4 years (±6.2), answer a question on how the unemployment affected their family lives. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data.
Results: The findings suggest that unemployment is a source of adult and youth mental distress and of economic hardship and changes in family relations.
Conclusion: Support to unemployed individuals and their families could benefit from these insights when granting the needed financial and socioemotional assistance.
Distress and unemployment : the related economic and noneconomic factors in a sample of unemployed adults
Publication . Frasquilho, Diana; Matos, Margarida Gaspar de; Marques, Adilson; Gaspar, Tânia; Almeida, José Miguel Caldas de
Objectives:
To examine the associations between economic and noneconomic factors and psychological distress in a group of 748 unemployed adults during economic recession.
Methods:
Data were collected through a questionnaire. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were used to test the associations between distress and the deprivation of income and latent benefits of employment (time structure, activity, status, collective purpose and social contact).
Results:
The participants’ mean of distress was higher than the national population mean, and 46.5% of the participants scored above that. All economic and noneconomic factors emerged as strong predictors of distress; particularly financial deprivation (OR 1.06; CI 95 % 1.04–1.09) and lack of structured time (OR 1.07; CI 95 % 1.05–1.09). Women (OR 1.40; CI 95 % 1.04–1.86) and people with lower education levels (OR 0.45; CI 95 % 0.34–0.61) were more affected.
Conclusions:
The unemployed individuals score high on distress, especially those facing financial strain and lack of structured time, and women and individuals with lower education in particular. Given the recessionary context and high unemployment rates, these insights raise awareness for policies and actions targeting the needs of unemployed people.
Mental health outcomes in times of economic recession : a systematic literature review
Publication . Frasquilho, Diana; Matos, MG; Salonna, Ferdinand; Guerreiro, Diogo; Storti, Cláudia C.; Gaspar, Tânia; Almeida, José M. Caldas de
Background:
Countries in recession experience high unemployment rates and a decline in living conditions, which, it has been suggested, negatively influences their populations’ health. The present review examines the recent evidence of the possible association between economic recessions and mental health outcomes.
Methods:
Literature review of records identified through Medline, PsycINFO, SciELO, and EBSCO Host. Only original research papers, published between 2004 and 2014, peer-reviewed, non-qualitative research, and reporting on associations between economic factors and proxies of mental health were considered.
Results:
One-hundred-one papers met the inclusion criteria. The evidence was consistent that economic recessions and mediators such as unemployment, income decline, and unmanageable debts are significantly associated with poor mental wellbeing, increased rates of common mental disorders, substance-related disorders, and suicidal behaviours.
Conclusion:
On the basis of a thorough analysis of the selected investigations, we conclude that periods of economic recession are possibly associated with a higher prevalence of mental health problems, including common mental disorders, substance disorders, and ultimately suicidal behaviour. Most of the research is based on cross-sectional studies, which seriously limits causality inferences. Conclusions are summarised, taking into account international policy recommendations concerning the cost-effective measures that can possibly reduce the occurrence of negative mental health outcomes in populations during periods of economic recession.
Parental unemployment and youth life satisfaction : the moderating roles of satisfaction with family life
Publication . Frasquilho, Diana; Matos, Margarida Gaspar de; Neville, Fergus; Gaspar, Tânia; Almeida, J. M. Caldas
While Europe is slowly recovering from the economic recession, its effects on labour markets are still visible. The number of jobless families has increased and previous research has shown that unemployment can affect the well-being of both parents and their children. In this study we explored the links between parental unemployment and youth life satisfaction by considering the potential moderating roles played by satisfaction with family life and perceived family wealth. We used descriptive statistics, correlations, simple moderation and moderated moderation models of regression on data from a representative sample of 3937 Portuguese students (Mage = 13.9 years; SD ± 1.7; 48 % boys). Results showed that the negative effects of parental unemployment on youth life satisfaction were moderated by youth perceived satisfaction with family life but not by perceived wealth. This suggested that during family unemployment, young people satisfied with their family life are less vulnerable to the negative effects of parental unemployment on their life satisfaction. The relationship between parental unemployment and youth well-being requires further research, especially during periods of labour market crisis.
Unemployment, life satisfaction and deprivation : gender and partnership differences in the context of economic recession
Publication . Frasquilho, Diana; Matos, Margarida Gaspar de; Marques, Adilson; Gaspar, Tania; Almeida, J. M. Caldas de
BACKGROUND: The economic recession produced a rapid rise of unemployment rates that was more visible in Southern European countries. There is evidence that unemployment correlates highly with individuals’ poor life satisfaction. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the relationship between life satisfaction, household composition and socioeconomic deprivation in people facing unemployment during the economic recession. METHODS: A sample of 748 unemployed people from Lisbon (Portugal) completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Cantril’s ladder of life scale, and the latent and manifest benefits of work scale (LAMB). Multiple regression analyses were used to test the associations between life satisfaction and all other variables. RESULTS: Partnered people report higher life satisfaction compared to singles. Financial deprivation and lack of structured time were the strongest factors negatively related to life satisfaction in both partnered and single people. Having children had a particular negative effect on the life satisfaction of partnered men; and living with an unemployed partner together with lack of social contact and high enforced activity had a negative effect on life satisfaction in partnered women. CONCLUSION: The heterogeneity of socioeconomic needs found by household composition bring practical policy implications for support actions targeting unemployed individuals in the unique context of economic recession.
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Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
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SFRH
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SFRH/BD/80846/2011