[Unemployment and your health: long-term analysis for the German Federal Republic]

Findings from a study based on the longitudinal data of the German Socio-Economic panel (annual data, 1984-1988, N = 5516 individuals, 18-64 years) confirmed differences in health between unemployed and employed persons. The health satisfaction of unemployed persons is on a lower level as well as health impairments. This was only partially due to socio-demographic characteristics. The differences by employment status were stable in all years between 1984 and 1988. However, there were no indications for a causal influence of unemployment on health impairments. A constant health-satisfaction of persons loosing their job and of the re-employed, compared to their initial ratings, supported the selection hypotheses. This means that during the study period persons in poorer health are more likely to loose their job and persons in better health are more likely to be re-employed.