Mental health effects of job loss in women
Abstract
Synopsis: This paper reviews literature on the mental health effects of involuntary job loss among women. In addition, a prospective study of the effects of job loss on psychological distress in a cohort of blue-collar women is described. A total of 141 women, of whom 73 were laid off during the 12-month study period, were examined. The occurrence and duration of lay-off was significantly associated with increased depressive symptoms, but not anxiety-related symptoms, even after effects of pre-lay-off psychological symptoms, social supports and occupational stress were considered. There was no evidence that these effects of lay-off were moderated by other characteristics measured prior to lay-off. Among women who were laid off, those who reported poor levels of support from their husband or partner in the immediate aftermath of lay-off and those experiencing more financial difficulties during the lay-off had higher depression levels at follow-up. The nature of the lay-off as a chronic psychosocial stressor is discussed.
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Work is an important factor for health status in women in general.
“work is an important factor for health status in women in general [43,44]”
From Which aspects of health differ between working and nonworking women with fibromyalgia? A cross-sectional study of work status and health (2012) · cites this paper as [44]
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“On the other hand, work is an important factor for health status in women in general [43,44] and in women with FM [38].”
BackgroundNicolaou, M., Shields-Zeeman, L. S., van der Wal, J. M., & Stronks, K. (2025) · PLOS One · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0323378 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
- Authors
- Dew, M. A., Bromet, E. J., & Penkower, L.
- Affiliations
- University of Pittsburgh (US)
- State University of New York (US)
- Corresponding author
- Dew, Mary Amanda
- Venue
- Psychological Medicine
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 1992-08
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 751-764
- ISSN
- 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-8978
- OpenAlex
- W2063014248
- Cited by
- 106
- References
- 80
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 6.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (5r01mh039972-02)
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH-39972)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Employment and Welfare Studies
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Workplace Health and Well-being
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Organizational Downsizing and Restructuring
- Keywords
- job loss, women, mental health, depressive symptoms, psychological distress, blue-collar workers, social support, marital support, financial hardship, occupational stress, psychosocial stressors
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Depression, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Social Support, Socioeconomic Factors, Stress, Psychological, Unemployment, Cohort Studies
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