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Transitional Employment and Psychological Distress: a Longitudinal Study
Michel Perreault1,2, Niamh Power3,4, El Hadj Touré3
1Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Research Centre, 6875 LaSalle Boulevard, Montréal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada. michel.perreault@douglas.mcgill.ca.
The Psychiatric Quarterly
|March 28, 2020
Summary
Employment status impacts mental health, but initial psychological distress is a key risk factor for unemployment. Optimizing coping strategies can mitigate negative psychological effects of job transitions.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
- Sociology
Background:
- Employment status is linked to mental health, but underlying psychological factors require further investigation.
- Vulnerable individuals with poor coping skills, low social support, and high stress may be predisposed to unemployment.
- Understanding the longitudinal relationship between employment transitions and psychological distress is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the longitudinal association between employment status and psychological distress.
- To investigate the influence of initial psychological distress, coping skills, social support, and stressful events on this relationship.
- To analyze transitional employment status in relation to psychological distress over time.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study with 1168 adult participants from Montréal.
- Data collected through randomized household surveys in 2009, 2011, and 2013.
- Psychological distress measured using the K-10 scale; employment status and other psychosocial factors were also assessed.
Main Results:
- No significant overall association between employment status and psychological distress over time.
- Continually employed individuals reported the lowest average psychological distress.
- Initial psychological distress predicted unemployment, and transitional employment's impact on distress was moderated by coping resources.
Conclusions:
- Initial psychological distress is a significant risk factor for unemployment.
- The negative psychological impact of employment transitions can be lessened by optimizing coping mechanisms.
- While employment status itself may not predict distress longitudinally, continual unemployment is associated with higher distress.
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