Psychological distress after employment transitions: the role of subjective financial position as a mediator

• DOI: 10.1136/jech.2005.044206
• Publication Date: 2006-12-20T23:43:19Z
• Authors: C. Thomas; M. Benzeval; S. Stansfeld
• Keywords: Psychological Distress; Odds; General Health Questionnaire

To explore the extent to which mental health effects of transitions into unemployment, or other forms non-employment, and vice versa, are mediated by financial changes.Longitudinal analysis British Household Panel Survey from 1991 2000. There were 89,264 person-years observation 14,686 individuals aged > =16 years. Main outcome measure was psychological distress measured 12-item General Health Questionnaire.Transitions unemployment associated with increased risk for men (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.15 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.50 3.98)) women (OR 2.60 CI 1.97 3.43)). Women who left work look after family also more likely experience 1.72 1.45 2.05)). A reduced seen paid employment 0.52 0.41 0.68)) 0.68 0.69 1.40)). Financial difficulty partially these relationships: became unemployed worse off financially 4.19 3.20 5.50)) than not 1.48 0.95 2.33)). Conversely, beneficial effect people employed confined those better 0.34 (0.25 0.48) men).Changes in status have both direct indirect effects, through changes circumstances, on subsequent distress. The results support view that direction causation runs difficulties