Unemployment and psychological distress among young adults in the <scp>N</scp>ordic countries: A review of the literature

Reneflot, Anne; Evensen, Miriam

doi:10.1111/ijsw.12000

Cited by 107 publications

(97 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…We also found that, for both men and women, a poor financial situation was related to a higher likelihood of a possible mental disorder. This finding is supported by the literature, which found positive associations between mental health and a comfortable financial situation in youth [33, 34, 54]. We also found that living with a partner is consistently related to both adverse mental health outcomes for men, which is consistent with the literature as well [36].…”

Section: Discussion and Limitationssupporting

confidence: 92%

The mental health of unemployed Brussels youth: the role of social and material resources

2017

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BackgroundIn the aftermath of the 2008 Great Recession, youth unemployment rates in the Brussels Capital Region (BCR) increased. The aim of this study is firstly to investigate the evolution of the mental health gap between employed and unemployed youth and secondly to examine the association of material and social resources with mental health of youth entering the labour market in the BCR.MethodsTwo data sources are used to answer the research questions: the Belgian Health Interview Survey (HIS) data (1997 to 2013; 18- to 29-year-olds; N = 5,562), and the authors’ own primary data collection among Brussels youth in the transition from education to employment (2015; 18- to 29-year-olds; N = 1,151; BCR-sample). Prevalence ratios, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses are used to explore mental distress and possible mental disorder amongst this particular group of youth.ResultsThe results show a consistent tendency towards increasing mental health problems for unemployed, compared to employed youth in the 1997–2013 period in the three Belgian Regions. Both social support and the living arrangements of men are related to mental distress and a possible mental disorder. The perception of a poor financial situation is related to a possible mental disorder. Our study also found that escape-avoidance behaviour is important in explaining both adverse mental health outcomes amongst women.ConclusionsThis study suggests that the mental health gap between employed and unemployed youth increases and demonstrates the importance of material and social resources for the mental health of unemployed youth. These results can contribute to discussions on unemployment policies targeting vulnerable youth.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13690-017-0187-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussion and Limitationssupporting

confidence: 92%

The mental health of unemployed Brussels youth: the role of social and material resources

2017

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“…Yet gendered norms have changed, as evidenced by the increased rate of labor force participation by women (Fortin 2015) and much more modest gender differences in attachment to jobs than once presumed (Sweet et al 2016). Relevant empirical findings are also mixed and inconclusive—the impacts of unemployment on mental health were stronger for men in some studies (Brydsten et al 2015; Paul and Moser 2009) but for women in others (Hammarström et al 2011; Reneflot and Evensen 2014). Other studies reported no gender differences (Frasquilho et al 2016; Nieuwenhuis et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such adverse mental health impacts can be more concentrated among young adults. First, young adults, also referred to as transitional age youth (Burt and Paysnick 2012), are more likely to lose their jobs compared to older adults (McGee and Thompson 2015; Reneflot and Evensen 2014). In January 2017, for example, the unemployment rate among young adults was almost double the national average (8.0% vs. 4.3%).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Young Adult Unemployment and Later Depression and Anxiety: Does Childhood Neighborhood Matter?

Lee

Jones

Yoon

et al. 2018

J Youth Adolescence

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Young adulthood represents a developmental period with disproportionately heightened risk of losing a job. Young adult unemployment has been linked to increased mental health problems, at least in the short term. However, their possible long-term impacts, often referred as “scarring effects,” have been understudied, possibly underestimating the magnitude of mental health burden that young adult unemployment generates. This longitudinal study examined whether duration of unemployment during young adulthood is associated with later mental health disorders, after accounting for mental and behavioral health problems in childhood. Furthermore, the current study investigated whether childhood neighborhood characteristics affect this association and if so, in what specific functional ways. Data were drawn from a longitudinal study of developmental outcomes in a community sample in Seattle. Data collection began in 1985 when study participants were elementary students and involved yearly assessments in childhood and adolescence (ages 10–16) and then biennial or triennial assessments (ages 18–39; N = 677 at age 39; 47% European American, 26% African American, 22% Asian American, and 5% Native American; 49% female). The current study findings suggest that duration of unemployment across young adulthood increased mental health problems at age 39, regardless of gender. Childhood neighborhood characteristics, particularly their positive aspect, exerted independent impacts on adult mental health problems beyond unemployment experiences across young adulthood. The current findings indicate a needed shift in service profiles for unemployed young adults—a comprehensive approach that not only facilitates reemployment but also addresses mental health needs to help them to cope with job loss. Further, the present study findings suggest that childhood neighborhoods, particularly positive features such as positive neighborhood involvement, may represent concrete and malleable prevention targets that can curb mental health problems early in life.

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“…3 4 6 An extensive body of literature suggests that youth unemployment is related to a decrease in physical and mental health and an increase in smoking and alcohol consumption. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Further, youth appears to be a sensitive time period in life, as recent studies have found that the effect of youth unemployment on mental health remains in adulthood, independent of later unemployment experiences. 6 14-16 The relationship between unemployment and ill health is, however, more complex as the effect could differ depending on the national rate of unemployment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…21 Previous research on youth unemployment has to a great extent relied on self-reported measures to assess the health or health behaviours. 13 19 24 Thus, there is a need to include more severe health outcomes, such as hospital diagnoses to more comprehensively address the effects of youth unemployment on health later in life. 13 The aims of the current study are (1) to investigate the effect of youth unemployment on mental health during periods of high and low unemployment rates and (2) to explore whether there is any interaction in mental health between labour force status and level of unemployment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term effects of youth unemployment on mental health: does an economic crisis make a difference?

Thern

Munter

Hemmingsson

et al. 2017

J Epidemiol Community Health

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BackgroundIll health is a risk factor and a consequence of unemployment, which might vary depending on the national rate of unemployment. We investigated the long-term effect of youth unemployment on mental health and explored the possible interaction during periods of high (economic crisis) and low (non-crisis) unemployment rates.MethodsA register-linked population-based cohort study was conducted including individuals aged 17–24 years. The crisis cohort (n=6410) took part in the Labour Force Survey during the economic crisis (1991–1994) in Sweden and the non-crisis cohort (n=8162) took part in the same survey before the crisis (1983–1986). Follow-up was 19 years. Adjusted HRs and 95% CIs for an inpatient care discharge mental diagnosis with employed people as the reference group were calculated by Cox regressions models.ResultsIn fully adjusted models, <3 months (HR: 1.69; 95% CI 1.14 to 2.49), 3–6 months (2.19; 1.43 to 3.37) and >6 months (2.70; 1.71 to 4.28) of unemployment were associated with increased risks of getting a mental diagnosis in the crisis cohort. In the non-crisis cohort the risks were: 1.92; 1.40 to 2.63, 2.60; 1.72 to 3.94 and 3.33; 2.00 to 5.57, respectively. No interactions between labour force status and level of unemployment were found.ConclusionsYouth unemployment is related to mental health problems, independent of the overall national rate of unemployment, which is important as the youth unemployment rates are currently at stable high level.

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Unemployment and psychological distress among young adults in the Nordic countries: A review of the literature

Cited by 107 publications

References 35 publications

The mental health of unemployed Brussels youth: the role of social and material resources

The mental health of unemployed Brussels youth: the role of social and material resources

Young Adult Unemployment and Later Depression and Anxiety: Does Childhood Neighborhood Matter?

Long-term effects of youth unemployment on mental health: does an economic crisis make a difference?

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