Health effects of downsizing survival and job loss in Norway

Østhus, Ståle

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.04.036

Cited by 34 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Becoming unemployed appeared to more than double the risk of depression in the analysis of panel data from Epidemiologic Catchment Area [11]. Null findings in survivors [72] or young unemployed [69] were by and large less frequent. The empirical evidence showed that layoff victims and survivors are exposed to psychosocial adversities with assumed depression-generating effects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Organizational Downsizing and Depressive Symptoms in the European Recession: The Experience of Workers in France, Hungary, Sweden and the United Kingdom

et al. 2014

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BackgroundOrganizational downsizing has become highly common during the global recession of the late 2000s with severe repercussions on employment. We examine whether the severity of the downsizing process is associated with a greater likelihood of depressive symptoms among displaced workers, internally redeployed workers and lay-off survivors.MethodsA cross-sectional survey involving telephone interviews was carried out in France, Hungary, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The study analyzes data from 758 workers affected by medium- and large-scale downsizing, using multiple logistic regression.Main ResultsBoth unemployment and surviving layoffs were significantly associated with depressive symptoms, as compared to reemployment, but the perceived procedural justice of a socially responsible downsizing process considerably mitigated the odds of symptoms. Perception of high versus low justice was assessed along several downsizing dimensions. In the overall sample, chances to have depressive symptoms were significantly reduced if respondents perceived the process as transparent and understandable, fair and unbiased, well planned and democratic; if they trusted the employer’s veracity and agreed with the necessity for downsizing. The burden of symptoms was significantly greater if the process was perceived to be chaotic. We further tested whether perceived justice differently affects the likelihood of depressive symptoms among distinct groups of workers. Findings were that the odds of symptoms largely followed the same patterns of effects across all groups of workers. Redeploying and supporting surplus employees through the career change process–rather than forcing them to become unemployed–makes a substantial difference as to whether they will suffer from depressive symptoms.ConclusionsWhile depressive symptoms affect both unemployed and survivors, a just and socially responsible downsizing process is important for the emotional health of workers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Organizational Downsizing and Depressive Symptoms in the European Recession: The Experience of Workers in France, Hungary, Sweden and the United Kingdom

et al. 2014

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“…Previous findings on the effects of anticipation of job loss on mental ill health have been inconsistent [14, 35, 47]. Norwegian findings nevertheless indicate that the largest increase in the risk of incident purchases of antidepressants occurs in the three months before the onset of unemployment [14].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trajectories of Antidepressant Medication before and after the Onset of Unemployment by Subsequent Employment Experience

Leinonen

Mäki²,

Martikainen

2017

PLoS ONE

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BackgroundThe unemployed more often suffer from depression than the employed. We examined whether mental health deterioration occurs already before unemployment implicating health selection, or whether it mostly occurs after becoming exposed to the experience rendering causal explanations more likely.MethodsWe used nationally representative Finnish register data to examine changes in depressive morbidity as measured by antidepressant medication in 1995–2009 over four years before and since a new onset of unemployment (N = 28 000) at the age of 30–60 compared to the employed (N = 124 136). We examined separately those who became continuously long-term unemployed, intermittently unemployed and unemployed with eventual re-employment in the second, third or fourth year since the year of onset. Annual repeated measurements were analysed using generalised estimation equations.ResultsAmong the employed antidepressant medication increased slowly but steadily over the study period and it was mainly at a lower level than among the unemployed. In the four years leading to unemployment there was excess increase in medication that was generally stronger among those with longer duration of the eventual unemployment experience. During unemployment medication decreased in all groups except among the intermittently unemployed. By the first year of re-employment antidepressant medication reached a level similar to that among the employed and afterwards followed no consistent trend.ConclusionsThe associations of unemployment and re-employment with depressive morbidity appear to be largely driven by health selection. The question of potential causal associations remains unresolved for intermittent unemployment in particular.

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“…The high ORs 3–1 month before unemployment perfectly correlate in time with the general Norwegian notice period, corresponding with a plausible onset of job insecurity. Job insecurity has been found to affect the work environment and employees' mental health negatively,18 28 in the short33 and long runs, and downsizings are often lengthy processes not only limited to the notice period 34…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unemployment and initiation of psychotropic medication: a case-crossover study of 2 348 552 Norwegian employees

et al. 2016

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Health effects of downsizing survival and job loss in Norway

Cited by 34 publications

References 37 publications

Organizational Downsizing and Depressive Symptoms in the European Recession: The Experience of Workers in France, Hungary, Sweden and the United Kingdom

Organizational Downsizing and Depressive Symptoms in the European Recession: The Experience of Workers in France, Hungary, Sweden and the United Kingdom

Trajectories of Antidepressant Medication before and after the Onset of Unemployment by Subsequent Employment Experience

Unemployment and initiation of psychotropic medication: a case-crossover study of 2 348 552 Norwegian employees

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