Unemployment Normalization: Its Effect on Mental Health During Various Stages of Unemployment

Abstract

The negative effects of job loss on mental health have been thoroughly described in the literature. However, different fluctuations in mental health during the unemployment period have been noticed. We argue that a coping process takes place in this kind of situation. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of the unemployment normalization process on mental health during various stages of unemployment. Participants ( N = 803) completed the General Health Questionaire-12 and the Unemployment Normalization Questionnaire. Results showed that a negative perception of unemployment had the greatest impact on mental health during the different phases of unemployment. Nevertheless, during the first year, having a positive perception counteracted these negative effects, and after 1 year, the unemployment norm took over the role of buffering against the negative effects on mental health. These results indicate that unemployment is still perceived as negative, but depending on the stage of unemployment, various coping strategies are used to buffer the negative consequences of unemployment.

Well-being of unemployed people: relations with work values and time of unemployment

“…Despite this and other studies claiming that unemployment in general is a degrading experience, it is possible to see that the personal values linked to work and the way the individual perceives unemployment, associated with socioeconomic aspects and social security policies, can be predominant in the reduction of unrest during long periods of unemployment (Thill et al, 2019;Virkes, Seršić, & Lopez-Zafra, 2017). Such assumptions point to the influence of the socio-cultural and economic aspects necessary to face unemployment and its negative effects (Virkes et al, 2017).…”

“…Considering the above, it is believed that the experience of negative affects experienced by the unemployed tends to stabilize over time, if coping is observed, together with the positive perception of work and its manifest value (Mousteri, Daly, & Delaney, 2018;Thill et al, 2019). Therefore, based on these concepts, the hypothesis is established that the duration of unemployment acts as a moderator in the relationship between unemployment and psychological well-being (H3).…”

“…It should be noted that some investigations have shown that in the first months without a job, the negative effects of unemployment are more pronounced, which requires the mobilization of positive dispositional characteristics of the individual such as optimism, the sense of purpose and meaning of life, coping strategies already mentioned, among others (Pignault & Houssemand, 2018;Su, Tay, & Diener, 2014;Thill, Houssemand, & Pignault, 2019).…”

“…Regarding the time of unemployment, it is seen in the literature that some people face the situation in a more positive way, self-regulating their emotions when they feel supported by family members. In addition, some individuals rely on incentives offered by the government through social security policies (Nekoei & Weber, 2017;Thill et al, 2019).…”

“…As seen, the dispositional characteristics of cognitive self-regulation, associated with employment protection policies and unemployment insurance benefits, can make unemployment, especially long-term unemployment, less painful for people (Farber & Valletta, 2015;Landais, 2015;Thill et al, 2019;Wanberg et al, 2016).…”