Abstract
BackgroundUnemployment is associated with adverse effects on health. Social capital has been suggested as a promoter of health via several causal pathways that are associated with the known health risk factors of being unemployed. This cross-sectional study investigated possible additive- and interaction effects of unemployment and five different measures of social capital in relation to psychosomatic symptoms and low psychological well-being.MethodsA random population sample of 20,538 individuals aged 18–85 years from five counties in Sweden completed a postal survey questionnaire including questions of employment status, psychosomatic symptoms, psychological well-being (General Health Questionnaire-12) and social capital.ResultsPsychosomatic symptoms and reduced psychological well-being were more frequent among unemployed individuals compared with individuals who were employed. Moreover, low social capital and unemployment had additive effects on ill-health. Unemployed individuals with low social capital—specifically with low tangible social support—had increased ill-health compared with unemployed individuals with high social capital. Moreover, to have low social capital within several different areas magnified the negative effects on health. However, no significant interaction effects were found suggesting no moderating effect of social capital in this regard.ConclusionsElements of social capital, particularly social support, might be important health-protective factors among individuals who are unemployed.
Highlights
Unemployment is associated with adverse effects on health
These characteristics of social capital are closely related to the factors that have been suggested to explain the association between unemployment and illhealth; financial stress, social isolation, loss of self-esteem and loss of health-related behaviours [1], indicating that social capital may have a buffering effect on the psychosocial stress of unemployment
The excluded individuals had a higher rate of psychosomatic symptoms (M = 9.07, standard deviations (SDs) = 6.69, Z = –12.43, p < 0.001), but there was no difference in psychological well-being (M = 1.15, SD = 2.52, Z = –0.11, p = 0.915) compared with the included study participants
Summary
Unemployment is associated with adverse effects on health. Social capital has been suggested as a promoter of health via several causal pathways that are associated with the known health risk factors of being unemployed. Social capital is suggested as a promoter of health by a number of causal pathways: it helps to decrease psychological and psychosocial stress, provides affective support and acts as a source of self-esteem and mutual respect, and it increases the likelihood that healthy norms of behaviour are adopted [23]. These characteristics of social capital are closely related to the factors that have been suggested to explain the association between unemployment and illhealth; financial stress, social isolation, loss of self-esteem and loss of health-related behaviours [1], indicating that social capital may have a buffering effect on the psychosocial stress of unemployment. Another study investigating the influence of social participation on subjective well-being among unemployed found no moderating effect in relation to unemployment, but strong additive effects [32]
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