[Unemployment and health]

Reviews of the literature on the relationship between unemployment and psychological and physical health point clearly to the fact, that loss of employment has a negative influence on the state of health of the unemployed and increases the signs of pathology. The negative influence of unemployment on health is seen mainly among the long-term unemployed, for young people who cannot find a job after finishing their education and for their family members. The range and extent of the negative consequences are various. They depend on socio-demographic, personality, situation and time factors and on the existing social support systems. A number of theoretical concepts (eg. of stress, life events, inability to fulfil latent psychological functions, the role of social structures etc.) are used to explain the mechanisms of the negative psychophysiological changes, connected with unemployment. However, it is possible, that the main role is played by an interaction of various factors, which influence the development of social and health related pathology. This indicates the necessity of creating detailed and varied programmes for prophylactics and treatment, based on scientific research. This is particularly important in Poland. Here the percentage of unemployment is very high. Unfortunately neither the Community, nor the political and administrative organs (including the Health Service) are equipped to cope with this new problem. To this must be added the lack of sufficient research, and inadequate knowledge about how unemployment spreads and about its consequences.