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Cited by 73Employment and Welfare StudiesMental Health Treatment and AccessWorkplace Health and Well-being

Common mental disorders, unemployment and welfare benefits in England

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Ford, E., Clark, C., McManus, S., Harris, J., Jenkins, R., Bebbington, P., Brugha, T., Meltzer, H. +1 more·2010·Public Health
DOI 10.1016/j.puhe.2010.08.019
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Abstract

Objectives Individuals who are out of work have a higher rate of common mental disorders (CMD) than individuals who are employed. People who are unemployed in the UK are entitled to welfare benefits to alleviate financial strain. This study examined rates of CMD in individuals who were employed, unemployed and receiving various UK benefits. It also investigated associations between duration of unemployment, gender and CMD.Study design An analysis of 5090 working-age participants from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007, a stratified probability sample survey conducted among adults aged 16 years and over living in private households in England.Methods CMD was assessed using the Clinical Interview Schedule (Revised). Information was gathered on sociodemographics, employment, income, benefits and debt. Data were analysed using logistic regression.Results Risk of CMD was significantly greater in individuals classified as: unemployed; economically inactive; not working due to physical health reasons; unable to find a suitable job; receiving housing, care or sickness benefit; and receiving income support. However, risk of CMD was not significantly greater in individuals receiving jobseeker's allowance. Individuals unemployed for less than 1 year or more than 3 years had a higher risk of CMD. Some interactions with gender were significant, with associations being greater in men than women.Conclusions Job loss events are not the only reason for unemployed people to develop CMD. The state of unemployment itself may be detrimental to mental health. Risk of CMD is increased in those who have been out of work for 3 years or more. Associations between benefits and mental health are likely to be due to social, health or economic circumstances associated with benefit eligibility.

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  • Among people occupying social and productive roles, major depressive disorder predicts substantial declines in role functioning, including poorer marital quality, lower work performance, and lower earnings.

    “Among people with specific social and productive roles, MDD is found to predict significant decrements in role functioning (e.g., low marital quality, low work performance, low earnings).”

    From The Costs of Depression (2012) · cites this paper as [67]

  • Major depressive episode and major depressive disorder significantly predict overall lost work performance, with annual salary-equivalent human capital value estimates between $30.1 billion and $51.5 billion.

    “All these studies found that MDE and MDD significantly predict overall lost work performance. Several studies attempted to estimate the annual salary-equivalent human capital value of these losses. These estimates were in the range $30.1 billion66 to $51.5 billion.64”

    From The Costs of Depression (2012) · cites this paper as [67]

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Authors
Ford, E., Clark, C., McManus, S., Harris, J., Jenkins, R., Bebbington, P., Brugha, T., Meltzer, H., & Stansfeld, S. A.
Affiliations
  • Queen Mary University of London (GB)
  • NatCen Social Research (GB)
  • King's College London (GB)
  • University College London (GB)
  • University of Leicester (GB)
Corresponding author
Clark, C.
ORCID
Venue
Public Health
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-12
Volume
124
Issue
12
Pages
675-681
ISSN
0033-3506 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.puhe.2010.08.019
OpenAlex
W2001011394
Cited by
73
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 4
FWCI
7.99
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Public Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Leicester Research Archive (University of Leicester) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Institute for Health and Care Research
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Employment and Welfare Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Workplace Health and Well-being
Keywords
common mental disorders, unemployment, welfare benefits, jobseeker's allowance, sickness benefits, income support, housing allowance, unemployment duration, gender differences, mental health, economic inactivity, job loss, Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Mental Disorders, England, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Public Assistance, Sex Factors, Social Support, Social Welfare, Unemployment, Logistic Models, Young Adult

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