Characteristics of Social Networks and Social Support among Long-Term and Short-Term Unemployed Teachers

Abstract

The impact of unemployment on social networks and social support has remained widely unknown. The cross-sectional study presented here shows that the characteristics of social networks among teachers affected by different periods of unemployment (n = 31 up to 23 months, and n = 33 from 24 to 42 months) differ only partially. No differences could be found concerning the size of social networks, the frequency of contact, and the intensity of social relationships. Unemployed teachers, however, were significantly more satisfied with their social networks and received more social support than the job holders (n = 15). Analyses of covariance made clear that neither financial distress, self-esteem, nor tendencies towards external vs. internal attribution account for these differences. These results are discussed in terms of different kinds of `network activation'.