The effect of unemployment on mental health

  1. Gregory C. Murphy1,*,
  2. James A. Athanasou2

Article first published online: 16 DEC 2010

DOI: 10.1348/096317999166518

Issue

Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology

Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology

Volume 72, Issue 1, pages 83–99, March 1999

Additional Information

How to Cite

Murphy, G. C. and Athanasou, J. A. (1999), The effect of unemployment on mental health. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 72: 83–99. doi: 10.1348/096317999166518

Author Information

  1. 1

    Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Australia

  2. 2

    Faculty of Education, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia

*Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3083, Australia.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 16 DEC 2010
  2. Article first published online: 16 DEC 2010
  3. Received 2 January 1997; revised version received 13 August 1997

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Sixteen recent longitudinal studies are examined for evidence relevant to the claim that a change to one's employment status affects one's mental health. Although there were limitations to the set of studies examined, most of the studies supported this claimed relationship. Examination was then made of the size of this effect. In carrying out this examination, the set of study results were divided into two categories: (a) those addressing the question of the extent to which gaining employment impacts on mental well-being; (b) those addressing the question of the extent to which employment loss impacts on mental health. The meta-analyses indicated that there was a weighted effect size of .54 for the first question, and a smaller weighted effect size (.36) for the latter question.

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