How to stay grounded when your job is spirited away Published on October 13, 2011 by Melanie A. Greenberg, Ph.D. in The Mindful Self-Express
Our nation is facing unprecedented rates of unemployment as well as job
insecurity and dissatisfaction. Recent figures put the national jobless rate at
close to 10%, not including those who left the workforce or those staying in
unsatisfying jobs. In a culture that values the work role and external signs of
status, wealth and achievement above all else. it is not surprising that rates
of anxiety and mental disorders are increasing and that more prescriptions for
anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications are being written every day.
Effects on Communities
High rates of unemployment affect not only individuals, but families and
communities. Foreclosures affect the property values of surrounding homes and
lack of money for home maintenance can lead to neglect. Public schools that rely
on charitable contributions from parents for enrichment activities, aides, and
additional study materials may be forced to offer less well-rounded educational
programs and special needs services when parents can no longer afford these
contributions. Parents who have to work more will cut classroom or fundraising
volunteer activities. In households where one spouse was the major breadwinner,
spouses who had chosen to stay home with young kids or work part-time may have
to go back to work full-time. Families may lose homes or have to relocate
because of the change in financial status.
Effects on Relationships
A spouse's job loss can also put strain on a marriage. Spouses may blame each other for not
cutting spending, not going back to work soon enough, or not foreseeing this
happening and finding another position in time. In addition, many people deal
with stress by increasing alcohol intake or converting
stress into anger, potentially leading to increases in
spousal arguments, domestic
violence, health and legal problems. Increasing financial stress
or transition also exacerbates pre-existing marital and relationship problems.
Stress, increased responsibilities, and obsessing over finding a job can
decrease desire and sexual interest. Increased stress can also increase marital
arguments or lead to lack of communication if one or both spouses shuts down
& withdraws emotionally. Job loss can evoke shame
and regret, which can lead to depression,
with further negative relationship impact. Lack of money for babysitters or date
nights can decrease opportunities for having fun together, which is a key
element of romance.
Chronic unemployment can have devastating effects on mental
health
Effects on Individuals
Research studies have shown that job loss can take a psychological and
biological toll as well, leading to depression, anxiety disorders, increased
somatic symptoms, such as fatigue or headaches, and higher rates of medical
illness. This toll may be worse for men, who are socialized to evaluate their self-worth in terms of their financial and career success. Suicide attempts also rise with unemployment.
In today's environment, a long period of job search is the
norm, particularly for older workers. A 2003 study found that 10% of those
losing a job were reemployed after one week, 25% after one month, while another
25% were still unemployed 6 months later. These figures are even higher today.
Even when workers do get reemployed, they often accept jobs with lower salaries
and less opportunities for advancement.
Many psychological variables are adversely affected by unemployment,
including perceived control, belief in one's own competence or self-efficacy,
self-esteem, identity, life satisfaction, and sense of meaning
and purpose in life. Research studies are mixed as to whether these effects are
temporary or long-term. A study by Clark, Diener and colleagues in 2003 found
that life satisfaction among unemployed did not return to pre-employment levels.
On the other hand, a 2010 study by George Bonnano and colleagues at Columbia
University, examining a large, representative sample of German workers, found
that more than two thirds of workers coped well with job loss and most people
returned to pre-employment life satisfaction levels within one year.
Research on Adjustment to Job Loss
What factors affect adjustment to job loss? A recent meta-analysis, which
statistically summarized the results of many well-designed studies found that
the following factors were most related to mental health during
unemployment:
Factors Predicting Worse Mental Health
Factors Predicting Better Mental Health
Staying mentally healthy and positive in the face of repeated disappointments
and uncertainty is certainly a difficult task. Yet this appears to be one of the
keys to finding re-employment and regaining life satisfaction. Core
Self-Evaluation had the largest association with mental health of the variables
measured and far outweighed demographic factors and behavioral factors such as
job search strategies and amount of effort expected. In my next post, I will
discuss concrete coping strategies that unemployed people can apply to maintain
hope and find resilience during this difficult period.
Melanie Greenberg, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, life coach,
and expert on thriving in difficult circumstances. She is also a professional
speaker and media consultant.
Visit my website:
http://melaniegreenbergphd.com/marin-psychologist/
See my other blog:
http://marinpsychologist.blogspot.com
Like me on Facebook:
http://www.fb.com/mindfulselfexpress
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/DrMelanieG
Our nation is facing unprecedented rates of unemployment as well as job
insecurity and dissatisfaction. Recent figures put the national jobless rate at
close to 10%, not including those who left the workforce or those staying in
unsatisfying jobs. In a culture that values the work role and external signs of
status, wealth and achievement above all else. it is not surprising that rates
of anxiety and mental disorders are increasing and that more prescriptions for
anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications are being written every day.
Effects on Communities
High rates of unemployment affect not only individuals, but families and
communities. Foreclosures affect the property values of surrounding homes and
lack of money for home maintenance can lead to neglect. Public schools that rely
on charitable contributions from parents for enrichment activities, aides, and
additional study materials may be forced to offer less well-rounded educational
programs and special needs services when parents can no longer afford these
contributions. Parents who have to work more will cut classroom or fundraising
volunteer activities. In households where one spouse was the major breadwinner,
spouses who had chosen to stay home with young kids or work part-time may have
to go back to work full-time. Families may lose homes or have to relocate
because of the change in financial status.
Effects on Relationships
A spouse's job loss can also put strain on a marriage. Spouses may blame each other for not
cutting spending, not going back to work soon enough, or not foreseeing this
happening and finding another position in time. In addition, many people deal
with stress by increasing alcohol intake or converting
stress into anger, potentially leading to increases in
spousal arguments, domestic
violence, health and legal problems. Increasing financial stress
or transition also exacerbates pre-existing marital and relationship problems.
Stress, increased responsibilities, and obsessing over finding a job can
decrease desire and sexual interest. Increased stress can also increase marital
arguments or lead to lack of communication if one or both spouses shuts down
& withdraws emotionally. Job loss can evoke shame
and regret, which can lead to depression,
with further negative relationship impact. Lack of money for babysitters or date
nights can decrease opportunities for having fun together, which is a key
element of romance.
Chronic unemployment can have devastating effects on mental
health
Effects on Individuals
Research studies have shown that job loss can take a psychological and
biological toll as well, leading to depression, anxiety disorders, increased
somatic symptoms, such as fatigue or headaches, and higher rates of medical
illness. This toll may be worse for men, who are socialized to evaluate their self-worth in terms of their financial and career success. Suicide attempts also rise with unemployment.
In today's environment, a long period of job search is the
norm, particularly for older workers. A 2003 study found that 10% of those
losing a job were reemployed after one week, 25% after one month, while another
25% were still unemployed 6 months later. These figures are even higher today.
Even when workers do get reemployed, they often accept jobs with lower salaries
and less opportunities for advancement.
Many psychological variables are adversely affected by unemployment,
including perceived control, belief in one's own competence or self-efficacy,
self-esteem, identity, life satisfaction, and sense of meaning
and purpose in life. Research studies are mixed as to whether these effects are
temporary or long-term. A study by Clark, Diener and colleagues in 2003 found
that life satisfaction among unemployed did not return to pre-employment levels.
On the other hand, a 2010 study by George Bonnano and colleagues at Columbia
University, examining a large, representative sample of German workers, found
that more than two thirds of workers coped well with job loss and most people
returned to pre-employment life satisfaction levels within one year.
Research on Adjustment to Job Loss
What factors affect adjustment to job loss? A recent meta-analysis, which
statistically summarized the results of many well-designed studies found that
the following factors were most related to mental health during
unemployment:
Factors Predicting Worse Mental Health
- Work Role Centrality - Evaluating one's work role to be a more central
aspect of identity - Social Undermining - Criticism and negative judgments by one's spouse,
family members, friends & colleagues - Financial Strain - Perceptions of not being able to meet one's immediate
financial obligations - Stress Appraisal - Seeing the unemployment experience as highly stressful
and negative
Factors Predicting Better Mental Health
- Positive Core Self-Evaluation - one's sense of oneself as worthy or unworhy,
competent or incompetent, having failed or having succeeded. - Time Structure - Having routines and projects to structure one's time
- Re-employment Expectancy - Having more positive expectations of finding
re-employment
Staying mentally healthy and positive in the face of repeated disappointments
and uncertainty is certainly a difficult task. Yet this appears to be one of the
keys to finding re-employment and regaining life satisfaction. Core
Self-Evaluation had the largest association with mental health of the variables
measured and far outweighed demographic factors and behavioral factors such as
job search strategies and amount of effort expected. In my next post, I will
discuss concrete coping strategies that unemployed people can apply to maintain
hope and find resilience during this difficult period.
Melanie Greenberg, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, life coach,
and expert on thriving in difficult circumstances. She is also a professional
speaker and media consultant.
Visit my website:
http://melaniegreenbergphd.com/marin-psychologist/
See my other blog:
http://marinpsychologist.blogspot.com
Like me on Facebook:
http://www.fb.com/mindfulselfexpress
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/DrMelanieG