Does unemployment lead to psychological scars? Long-term effects of unemployment on mental health.

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While there exists a lot of research concerning the direct consequences of unemployment on mental health, only few studies have scrutinized the psychological long-term effects (so-called scarring effects) of previous periods of unemployment on mental health. Since a large proportion of all workers will experience at least one period of unemployment during their lifetime, knowledge about this kind of long-term effects is highly important in order to attain a comprehensive picture of the threat that unemployment poses to public health systems. Therefore, the research project developed in this proposal has the following goals: (1) A clarification of the question whether negative long-term effects on mental health can be demonstrated for formerly unemployed individuals. (2) A test of the assumption that the intensity of unemployment is a better predictor of long-term effects than the duration of unemployment, the latter being the variable that was typically used as predictor in extant studies. Intensity of unemployment will be measured as hours worked per week1 (negatively coded), as difference of preferred minus actual hours worked per week, and as intensity of job search. (3) The identification of specific characteristics of unemployment that lead to negative long-term effects. The latent functions of employment and employment status incongruence are particularly important in this regard. (4) A clarification of the course of possible of long-term effects of unemployment. Is there a 'honeymoon-effect' directly after people find new jobs? If so, how long does it last? (5) A more detailed description of the psychopathological syndrome that characterizes long term effects of unemployment. Particularly depression and embitterment are relevant here. (6) Moderator tests, in order to identify subgroups of people who suffer from unusually strong longterm effects. Age and career orientations are particularly important in this regard. In order to answer these questions, we plan to conduct meta-analyses and to continue a longitudinal study that was funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. 1 A large number of unemployed individuals are active in some kind of insignificant or part time job; Working up to 14 hours per week is legal according to German social legislation (SGB III).