The relationship between unemployment and wellbeing: An updated meta-analysis of longitudinal evidence

Gedikli, Cigdem, Miraglia, Mariella, Connolly, Sara ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6714-3493, Bryan, Mark and Watson, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7199-2866 (2023) The relationship between unemployment and wellbeing: An updated meta-analysis of longitudinal evidence. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 32 (1). pp. 128-144. ISSN 1359-432X

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Abstract

We provide an up-to-date quantitative synthesis of the evidence on the effect of unemployment on wellbeing based on 46 samples reported in 29 studies published between 1990 and 2020. Our sample includes longitudinal studies focusing on developed economies (e.g., EU-15 countries, UK, US, and Australia). We advance existing knowledge by exploring a wider range of wellbeing measures (both mental health and subjective wellbeing) and an extensive set of moderators capturing individual characteristics and country-level factors. In addition to the well-established negative impact upon mental health, our results present a negative relationship between unemployment and life satisfaction. In line with previous work, this negative association is stronger for men than women, and the longer the duration of unemployment, the larger the impact. We contribute to the existing evidence by pointing to the significant role in this relationship of gender, social and economic context, and norms/societal expectations regarding work. Finally, by utilising longitudinal data and meta-analytic cross-lagged structural equation modelling, we present preliminary evidence on the existence of a reciprocal relationship between unemployment and wellbeing over time. While unemployment reduces wellbeing, poor wellbeing also leads to unemployment, indicating that individuals can become trapped in a cycle of unemployment and poor wellbeing.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Funding: This work was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council [grant number ES/N003586/1].
Uncontrolled Keywords: meta-analysis,unemployment,wellbeing,norms,societal expectation,societal expectations,unemployment,meta-analysis,applied psychology,organizational behavior and human resource management,sdg 8 - decent work and economic growth,sdg 3 - good health and well-being,3* ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3200/3202
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Social Sciences > Norwich Business School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Employment Systems and Institutions
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Institute for Volunteering Research
Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Centre for Research on Children and Families
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Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 25 Jul 2022 11:30
Last Modified: 14 Jun 2023 16:31
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/86843
DOI: 10.1080/1359432X.2022.2106855

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