Affiliations: Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie,
Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität
Dresden | Forschungsstelle Sozialanalysen, Leipzig | Selbständige Abteilung für Medizinische
Psy-chologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Universi-tät Leipzig
Note: [] Korrespondenzadresse: Dr. rer. medic. Hendrik Berth, Dipl.-Psych.,
Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität
Dresden, Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische So-ziologie, Fetscherstr.
74, D-01307 Dresden. Tel.: 0351 4584028, Fax: 0351 4585526; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: Objectives: Research on the correlation of unemployment and health
has a long tradition. This correlation is explained by two opposite hypotheses:
The causality theory proposes the occurance of health impairments as a
consequence of unemployment; according to the selectivity theory, however,
psychologically impaired persons are more likely to become unemployed than
healthier individuals. Methods: Both hypotheses are examined by analysing the three waves
of the Saxonian profile study (1991, 1996, 2004). The sample contains N=153
persons that were interviewed at all three waves. The average age increased
from M=18 years in 1991 to M=31 in 2004. 57% of the sample were female. The
subjective psychological distress was measured by a newly designed 4-item
instrument, the D-Score, which was proven to be reliable and valid. In
addition, experiences with unemployment were acquired. Results: In 1996 nearly 50% of the respondents had already
experiences with unemploy-ment, in 2004 nearly 60%. The duration of
unemployment was associated with the D-Score within the individual waves:
Persons, who were unemployed for a longer time, were more distressed in each
case. The psychological condition from earlier waves was strongly correlated
with the total period of unemployment experienced, which was raised in 2004.
Conclusion: The results give hints for both causality and selection
hypotheses. More distressed persons may become unemployed more frequently, and
unemployment may in turn lead to more pronounced distress. Thus, an
interplaying, self-energizing effect of selection and causality may be assumed
in the sense of a vicious circle: Psychologically impaired persons are more
often unemployed and then suffer more from the consequences of their
unemployment. This in turn may lead to poor chances on the job market.
Keywords: Unemployment, Distress, Young Adults, Causality, Selection
