SEX, SOCIAL CLASS AND ETHNIC DIFFERENCES IN THE EXPECTATIONS OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL‐BEING OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN ENGLAND

Abstract

Summary. Studies of the harmful psychological effects of unemployment on young people have typically paid little attention to their psychological well‐being during their final years at school. In particular, there has been little research into the relationship between school pupils' well‐being and their expectations and views about the possibility of becoming unemployed after leaving school. It is possible that those pupils who anticipate unemployment may have lower levels of well‐being, and may thus experience less of a decline in psychological health at the onset of unemployment.The study described here set out to measure two indices of well‐being, psychological distress and anxiety, among fifth and sixth year secondary school pupils. Also measured were their expectations of becoming unemployed, their concern about this, the amount of difficulty they expected to encounter finding a job, and their employment commitment. Comparisons on these variables were made between males and females, middle class and working class pupils, and white, Asian and Afro‐Caribbean pupils. Differences between these demographic categories are reported, along with the associations observed between the well‐being variables and views about future employment and unemployment. Levels of psychological distress and anxiety were found to be as high as those observed in unemployed samples, though were not related to expectations and concern about the possibility of becoming unemployed. A number of possible influences on the psychological health of school pupils are suggested.