Perceived stress as a risk factor of unemployment: a register-based cohort study

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough unemployment and high levels of perceived stress have been associated in cross-sectional studies, the direction of causation is unknown. We prospectively examined if high levels of perceived everyday life stress increased the risk of subsequent unemployment and further if differences existed between socioeconomic status-groups.MethodsWe included 9335 18–64-year-old employed respondents of a health survey (North Denmark Health Profile 2010) in which Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale was used to assess the level of perceived stress. Data were linked individually to national administrative registers. Cox proportional hazards model was used to investigate the association between perceived stress quintiles and risk of unemployment during 98 weeks of follow-up. Analyses were further performed in subgroups defined by education and income.ResultsIn total, 224 people (10.4%) of the high stress group became unemployed during follow-up, which was higher than the lower stress groups. After adjusting for gender, age, education and income, the risk of unemployment was 1.64 (95% CI: 1.28;2.11) in the high stress group compared to the low stress group. After adjusting for gender and age, a similar trend was observed across different education levels and among the lower income groups, but no higher risk of unemployment due to perceived stress was found among the higher income groups. However, there was no statistically significant interaction between perceived stress and income level (p = 0.841) or perceived stress and education level (p = 0.587).ConclusionPerceived everyday life stress nearly doubled the risk of subsequent unemployment in a working population. No statistically significant interactions between SES and perceived stress were found. This indicates that stress prevention among the working population should not solely focus on stress in the workplace but also include stress from everyday life.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-018-5618-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Collection of selected articles 2019

“…The unemployed had a higher prevalence of stress only because of their male counterparts, which suggests that stress was more related to unemployment among men than women. This is confirmed by the literature, where a cohort study by Maehlisen MH, et al (2018) found that domestic stress almost doubled the risk of unemployment [15].…”

Prevalence, Psychological Responses and Associated Correlates of Depression, Anxiety and Stress in a Global Population, During the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic

“…However, an absolute causal relationship could not be established. In a sample of 224 participants, 10.4% had high stress amidst unemployment (Mæhlisen et al 2018 ). The unemployed being significantly stressed may suggest a causal relationship, but causality can not be established until additional investigations are performed.…”

Psychological Implications of Unemployment Among Bangladesh Civil Service Job Seekers: A Pilot Study

“…In this setting, the prevalence rates reported from other countries around the world have revealed substantial variability suggesting that both local social and cultural factors, as well as the underlying common elements promoting the emergence of depression, anxiety, and stress, may lead to marked heterogeneity in the prevalence rates of these psychiatric disturbances. Notwithstanding, higher prevalence of these psychiatric symptoms is universally more likely to occur among unemployed graduates all over the world (2–6). Previous studies have reported elevated rates of depression, anxiety, and stress among involuntarily unemployed individuals.…”

“…UUE-related elements such as economic distress and joblessness, as well as job insecurity, frequently underlie feelings of failure, which in turn may lead to depression, stress, and anxiety (3–6). Moreover, the family and social pressures associated with job-seeking activities and higher expectations from university graduates also act as potential mediators of depression and stress disorders among university graduates exploring the job markets (2).…”