Mental health effects of job loss in women

This paper reviews literature on the mental health effects of involuntary job loss among women. In addition, a prospective study of the effects of job loss on psychological distress in a cohort of blue-collar women is described. A total of 141 women, of whom 73 were laid off during the 12-month stud...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychological medicine 1992-08, Vol.22 (3), p.751-764
Main Authors: Dew, Mary Amanda, Bromet, Evelyn J., Penkower, Lili
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Cohort Studies
Depression - psychology
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Medical sciences
Mental Health
Middle Aged
Original Articles
Prospective Studies
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Social psychiatry. Ethnopsychiatry
Social Support
Sociocultural environment
Socioeconomic Factors
Stress, Psychological - psychology
Unemployment - psychology
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Summary:This paper reviews literature on the mental health effects of involuntary job loss among women. In addition, a prospective study of the effects of job loss on psychological distress in a cohort of blue-collar women is described. A total of 141 women, of whom 73 were laid off during the 12-month study period, were examined. The occurrence and duration of lay-off was significantly associated with increased depressive symptoms, but not anxiety-related symptoms, even after effects of pre-lay-off psychological symptoms, social supports and occupational stress were considered. There was no evidence that these effects of lay-off were moderated by other characteristics measured prior to lay-off. Among women who were laid off, those who reported poor levels of support from their husband or partner in the immediate aftermath of lay-off and those experiencing more financial difficulties during the lay-off had higher depression levels at follow-up. The nature of the lay-off as a chronic psychosocial stressor is discussed.
ISSN:0033-2917
1469-8978
DOI:10.1017/S0033291700038198