Unemployment and depressive symptoms in a southern black community

Research was conducted on the relationship between unemployment and mental health in a black community in the southern United States. Unemployment is known to have deleterious mental health effects, but little research has been conducted in minority communities where the risk of unemployment is greatest. In a cross-sectional survey, unemployment was found to be significantly related to higher depressive symptoms, independently from demographic factors, chronic stressors, other life events, and resistance resources. Also, the effect of unemployment was exacerbated by low household income and the occurrence of other life events. These results support the conclusion that unemployment confers substantial risk for depressive affect.