Employment Uncertainty and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic Initial Social Distancing Implementation: a Cross-national Study

• DOI: 10.1007/s40609-020-00201-4
• Publication Date: 2021-01-07T07:10:19Z
• Authors: Mary Ruffolo; Daicia Price; Mariyana Schoultz; Janni Leung; Tore Bonsaksen; Hilde Thygesen; Amy Østertun Geirdal
• Keywords: Social distance; Pandemic; Social Isolation

Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in changes work environment and employment uncertainty. This paper reports on a cross-national comparison of four countries (Norway, UK, USA Australia) examines differences mental health between those individuals employed not social implementation.Participants (N = 3,810) were recruited through media April/May 2020 invited to complete self-administered electronic survey over 3-week period. Differences with regard their sociodemographic characteristics investigated chi-square tests, independent t one-way analysis variances (ANOVAs).Compared counterparts, participants who reported lower levels distress (p < 0.001), higher psychosocial well-being better overall quality life loneliness, emotional loneliness 0.001). Small medium but consistent (Cohen's d 0.23-0.67) favor or retired.Further study is needed assess time as uncertainty continues.