Unemployed Persons Research Articles

Purpose in life (Ikigai) and employment status in relation to cardiovascular mortality: the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study

ObjectivesTo investigate whether having a purpose in life (Ikigai) is associated with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and whether the association varies by employment status.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingResidents in 45...

Mental Health and COVID-19: Symptom Prevalence, Sociodemographic Associations, and Implications for Practice

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on mental health. The current study examined symptoms of depression and anxiety and sociodemographic factors associated with increased symptoms among 1,242 adults under the same state-issued stay-at-home mandate. Mean anxiety and depression scores were 58.07 ± 9.6 and 55.18 ± 10.49, with the majority of participants indicating clinically significant symptoms of anxiety (n = 831, 66.90%) and depression (n = 652, 52.49%). African American and Latino/a American participants, individuals under the age of 45, and unemployed individuals or persons working in professional jobs presented with the most significant risk for adverse outcomes. Implications highlight the vital role of clinical mental health counselors in supporting at-risk populations and the need for future research supporting prevention-based, culturally appropriate screening and treatment protocols.

Explaining public support for demanding activation of the unemployed: The role of subjective risk perceptions and stereotypes about the unemployed

In recent decades, European welfare states have adopted demanding active labour market policies (ALMPs), aimed at increasing labour market participation through imposing stricter work-related obligations and benefit cuts in case of job offer rejection. This article investigates whether support for such demanding ALMPs is driven by risk perceptions of future unemployment and negative stereotypes about unemployed persons. Insights into the role of risk perceptions and stereotypes offer opportunities to gain a better understanding of the impact of structural variables. Drawing on data from the European Social Survey 2016 in 21 European countries, the analysis reveals that higher subjective risk of unemployment decreases support for these ALMPs substantially, whereas negative perceptions of the unemployed increase support. However, these factors play at the individual level only and do not explain country-level differences in support of demanding ALMPs. The notable cross-national variation in support of activation policies is found to be unrelated to economic factors and to the strictness of activation requirements for unemployment benefits.

Social determinants associated with self-reporting of symptoms and access to COVID-19 testing and diagnosis in the Plurinational State of BoliviaDeterminantes sociais associados ao autorrelato de sintomas, acesso a testagem e diagnóstico de COVID-19 no Estado Plurinacional da Bolívia

RESUMENObjetivo.Identificar la prevalencia del autoinforme de síntomas, del acceso al testeo y del diagnóstico de la enfermedad por el coronavirus del 2019 (COVID-19, por su sigla en inglés), así como su asociación con determinantes sociales de la salud (DSS).Métodos.Estudio transversal con una muestra de 11 728 hombres y 12 612 mujeres mayores de 17 años, con base en la Encuesta Nacional de Hogares 2020. Las variables dependientes fueron el autoinforme de síntomas, de acceso al testeo y de una prueba positiva para COVID-19. Las variables independientes fueron la edad, el nivel de educación, la zona de residencia y geográfica, la etnia, el tipo de hogar, el ingreso per cápita, la actividad y el seguro de salud. Se calcularon prevalencias, asociaciones bivariadas y modelos de regresión logística binomial (razón de momios [OR] e intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%]).Resultados.Del total de personas incluidas, 16% notificó síntomas, 10% un testeo y 4,2% una prueba positiva para COVID-19. Existieron desigualdades en la notificación de síntomas de COVID-19, con una mayor probabilidad en las mujeres cuyos ingresos habían disminuido (OR: 1,7; IC95%: 1,2-2,4) y las personas desempleadas (OR: 1,2; IC95%: 1,1-1,4 para los hombres y OR:1,3; IC: 1,5-1,5 para las mujeres). En cambio, con respecto al acceso a las pruebas diagnósticas, la mayor probabilidad se observó en personas con educación superior (OR: 2.4; IC95%: 1,9-2,9 para los hombres y OR: 2,7; IC95%: 2,2-3,4 para las mujeres), cuyos ingresos se mantuvieron (OR: 1,5; IC95%: 1,3-1,9 para los hombres y OR: 1,7; IC95%: 1,4-2,0 para las mujeres) y del cuartil de ingreso per cápita en el hogar más alto (OR: 2,0; IC95%:1,6-2,5 para los hombres y OR: 1,6; IC95%: 1,3-2,0 para las mujeres). La probabilidad de notificar síntomas, realizarse una prueba y el diagnóstico para COVID-19 aumentó con la edad, para las personas que contaban con seguro de salud y residentes en los llanos; por otra parte, disminuyó para residentes de zonas rurales.Conclusiones.Existen desigualdades en el acceso al testeo y en la notificación de síntomas de la COVID-19.

Legitimating collaboration, collaborating to legitimate: Justification work in “holistic” services for long-term unemployed persons

AbstractTo address complex social problems, such as long-term unemployment, local authorities in many countries are developing “holistic” or “integrated” services, where multiple actors and professions collaborate with a view to better meet the needs of the individual citizen. By breaking with existing practices and regulations, collaborative services must be legitimized in new ways so as to appear acceptable not only in the eyes of the public and politicians, but also to caseworkers and the long-term unemployed persons. This article examines the multifarious and sometimes neglected efforts to make these collaborative services legitimate in the eyes of this plurality of stakeholders on multiple levels of governance. Our study indicates three distinct but mutually interrelated spheres of audience that require partly conflicting justification work. We also find that the narrow pursuit of justification work to ensure legitimacy with one audience may potentially jeopardize the justification work in the other two.

Nosological structure of ophthalmic emergencies in on-call ophthalmologist visits: a retrospective study

Objectives. A retrospective analysis of the nosological structure of ophthalmic emergencies based on on-call ophthalmologist reports in 2021.Materials and methods. A total of 400 people admitted to the emergency room of Territorial Clinical Hospital No. 2 were selected. Data were analysed with MS Excel using descriptive statistics; the results displayed in charts, as well as absolute numbers and the percentage of total cases.Results. On average, over 10,000 patients with various injuries of the eyeball and adnexa visit the emergency room every year. The patient mean age was 37.4 ± 10.7 years. Unemployed persons or those without formal employment predominated. The injuries were mostly domestic accident. The commonest diagnosis was corneal foreign body (53.5%).Conclusions. Foreign body was established as the main ocular surface injury (64.75%). Corneal erosions rank second after foreign bodies. Penetrating wounds account for 2.5% cases, comprising the cause of visual impairments as severe as blindness. Preventive measures should be planned and implemented based on the nosological structure identified.

Parität zwischen Vakanzen und Arbeitslosen am deutschen Arbeitsmarkt fast erreicht

AbstractWith 1.9 million vacancies available to 2.3 million registered unemployed persons, parity in the German labour market has almost been achieved. Such parity however may produce labour shortages that go far beyond small bottlenecks, which are limited to particular regions and industries. In the short term, labour demand may be curtailed by temporary risks such as an energy crisis. In the medium term however, projections indicate that demographic change will significantly reduce the labour supply. Maintaining the current high level of economic activity therefore requires an all-out effort to raise the potential supply of skilled workers. (Re-)training and further education are but two elements of such an effort that work by also reducing the skill-based mismatch that has risen from ecological and technological change.

The perceived fair duration of unemployment benefits for older workers. The role of lifetime achievements in the labour market

AbstractThe welfare state regulates social policies and reallocates scarce resources. For the social legitimacy of the welfare state, it is important that the public supports the principles underlying this reallocation. This article examines the impact of different activities during the life course on public deservingness perceptions of older unemployed people. In a factorial survey experiment conducted among a random sample of individuals drawn from German administrative employment records, we examine the maximum duration of benefit receipt which is perceived as fair for older unemployed persons with different biographies. The results indicate strong public support for a nexus between previous contributions and benefit entitlements. Besides financial contributions to unemployment insurance, parenting and further training are considered to be ‘lifetime achievements’ which justify longer unemployment benefit receipt. We interpret these findings as an expression of a generalised form of reciprocity which guides perceptions of deservingness regarding older unemployed persons.

P08-13 Physical activity increases social inclusion

BackgroundStudies show that exercise improves self-esteem and improved self-esteem strengthens inclusion and prevents marginalization. Young people who have only completed primary school may incur additional costs of up to 370 000 euros for public administration over their lifetime, compared to those who educate themselves. In Pieksämäki, a physical activity intervention was developed for physically inactive young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) and it aims to improve their activity and thereby their social inclusion. The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcomes and the cost of the intervention.MethodsThe physical activity intervention includes a personal physical exercise plan, individual instruction and free access to the swimming hall and gym during the participation. Each participant gets as much guidance as they need. We present results only for three cases, because the target group was very challenging. The follow-up period was 12 months.ResultsTo evaluate the outcomes we used three subjective measures, 3X10D® (survey-self-evaluation tool), the Abilitator®, and 15D (HRQoL, the health-related quality of life instrument). The 3X10D® showed that life as a whole and self-esteem improved in two cases. In all three cases managing in daily activities improved. However, the Abilitator® showed slight improvement in wellbeing and clear improvement in physical functioning in all three cases. We obtained 15D results only from two cases. In one case HRQoL decreased slightly and in the other one it increased significantly. The employment status of these three cases changed. In the beginning there was an unemployed person, a person having only 9-year basic education and a drop-out from vocational education. After the intervention the unemployed person was working, and the other two were studying. Depending on the number of visits to the physical exercise instructor and other physical activities the costs of the intervention varied between 1042 and 1215 euros.ConclusionsBased on the results physical functioning and self-esteem improved and that can lead to stronger social inclusion. Although the three individuals underwent intensive individual instruction, the costs were low compared to the costs of social exclusion reported in earlier researches.

Меры государственной поддержки обеспечения занятости населения в Латвии, Литве и Эстонии

According to the EU Eurostat data, for a long period of time, the Baltic countries have been leading the list of countries with high unemployment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these indicators have become critical in their scale, so the national governments of these countries, with the help of the EU, are trying to change the situation for the better with the help of various measures of state support in the field of employment, stabilize these indicators and bring them to the level of pre-crisis 2019. The purpose of the study is a comprehensive analysis of state support measures of the Governments of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia aimed at providing employment and combating unemployment as one of the factors affecting their socio-economic development. The methodology of the study includes a method of statistical analysis, with the help of which statistical data on the number of unemployed citizens in these countries (for the period 2014-2021) are compared, the dynamics of the population in the period under review is considered. Along with the statistical method, a SWOT analysis was used, on the basis of which the strengths and weaknesses of state support measures of the governments of the Baltic countries in order to support employment, potential threats from their application and new opportunities for supporting unemployed persons were identified. The authors of the study made proposals on the need for structural reforms aimed at improving the labor market in the Baltic states, such as: retraining citizens who lost their jobs during the pandemic, for state account, the introduction of stricter quotas for the entry of citizens from the territory of the former Soviet Union and obtaining a work visa, the provision of additional subsidies to small and medium-sized businesses, the release of their from paying taxes for the period of emerging pandemics.

The Role of Kinship in Racial Differences in Exposure to Unemployment.

Most studies on unemployment have assessed its individual-level costs. However, beyond its effects on individuals, unemployment incurs costs for their immediate families and extended kin. Close kin provide the majority of social support for unemployed adults. Applying demographic and statistical techniques to official statistics and using COVID-19 survey data on kinship and labor force experience, we assess the unemployment level and exposure to unemployment in the United States from a kinship perspective. The results indicate dramatic racial disparities in the number of unemployed kin and the number of kin affected by an unemployed person. Specifically, during the pandemic-induced recession, Black Americans had 1.7 unemployed people in their extended family compared with 1.2 among Whites. Further, every job loss in a Black extended family affected approximately 23 related members of the family through kinship ties, compared with approximately 20 among Whites. The racial gap in the number of unemployed kin is evident in all age-groups and escalates with age. This study's findings highlight the need to understand unemployment and its demographic implications, which are stratified by race.

Prevalence and sociodemographic factors associated with polysubstance use: analysis of a population-based survey in Jamaica

BackgroundIn Latin America and the Caribbean, there is a dearth of research exploring polysubstance use. This study aims to determine the prevalence, varying combinations and associated sociodemographic characteristics of polysubstance use in Jamaica.MethodsThis study involved a secondary data analysis of the Jamaica National Drug Prevalence Survey 2016 dataset where 4,623 participants between the age of 12 and 65 years from each household were randomly selected as respondents. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the prevalence and the sociodemographic correlates of polysubstance use among Jamaicans.Results19.6% of respondents used two or more drugs in their lifetime. Of this amount 68.7% reported past year use and 61.9% reported past month use. Bivariate analyses reported polysubstance use was statistically significantly higher amongst males (U = 54,579, p = 0.000), those living in rural areas (U = 91,892, p = 0.003), non-Christian (U = 89,514, p = 0.014), and married persons (U = 74,672, p = 0.000). Past month polysubstance use was statistically significantly higher among employed persons than unemployed persons were (U = 81,342, p = 0.001). Surprisingly, there was a lack of significant differences between education level, household income and past month concurrent polysubstance use (p = 0.609; p = 0.115 respectively). Logistic regression model indicated males were 3.076 times more likely than females to report past month polysubstance use than females. Also, when compared to those 55–65 years old, participants 35–54 years were 2.922 times more likely and those 18–34 years were 4.914 times more likely to report past month polysubstance use. Additionally, those living in rural areas were 1.508 times more likely than participants living in urban areas to report past month polysubstance use. As it relates to occupational status, when compared to armed forces, skilled workers were 4.328 times more likely and unskilled workers were 7.146 times more likely to report past month polysubstance use.ConclusionsOne in five Jamaicans identified as polysubstance users, predominated by marijuana as the most common factor amongst the polysubstance combinations examined, signalling the need for early marijuana interventions.

Shockingly cold and electricity-dependent in a rich context: Energy poor households in Norway

Norway remains an understudied context for energy poverty. Resting on semi-structured interviews with 17 households located in two general areas around the wider Oslo region, the article draws on Bourdieu's concepts of social fields and capitals, as well as more recent social practice theory. We use this to explore what makes Norwegian households vulnerable to energy poverty, their coping strategies, and implications for health and wellbeing. With its particular reliance on electricity as household energy carrier, general high income-levels, and being at the forefront of the energy transition, the case of Norway generates insights useful for understanding energy poverty implications of decarbonisation. We show that households that are heavily dependent on electricity, have unstable incomes, and live in energy-inefficient rental housing are especially vulnerable. The most marginalised households are typically headed by unemployed persons of working age; dependent on parental assistance to live ‘normal’ lives, and they often struggle with stigmatisation and shame. Lack of access to economic and social capital influences their energy practices and vulnerability in several social fields, also beyond direct living conditions. With increasing electrification of sectors like heating, transport and industry, findings from Norway are relevant to energy-poverty scholarship on electricity dependency and decarbonisation.

Micronucleus assay in the exfoliated cells of buccal mucosa of gasoline station workers in Tehran.

One of the most critical landmarks of DNA damage is the micronucleus assay. Enumeration of micronuclei contributes to the early diagnosis of precancerous lesions and cancers; however, there are few studies on the frequency of micronucleus in gasoline station workers. To the best of our knowledge, no study has addressed this issue in Iran. The present study aimed to determine the role of working in the gasoline stations of Tehran city on micronucleus frequency in buccal mucosa. In this historical cohort study, buccal mucosa samples were collected from 110 individuals working at gasoline stations and 100 unemployed persons using wet tongue depressors. After Papanicolaou staining, the percentage of cells containing micronucleus as well as the mean number of micronucleus in the micronucleated cells was reported. Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney test, and regression analyses were used to specify the effect of other variables on the frequency and mean number of micronucleus per cell. The mean frequency of micronucleus in the case and control group was 29.8 ± 8.2 and 9.3 ± 3.2, respectively, which was statistically significant (P = 0.0001). Furthermore, the mean number of micronucleus in the micronucleated cells of buccal mucosa was significantly higher in individuals who were exposed to gasoline than the control group (P = 0.0001). The results indicated that exposure to gasoline could increase the frequency of micronucleus. It was also revealed that cigarette and hookah smoking and alcohol consumption, together with working in gasoline stations, increase micronucleus abundance, implying the cumulative carcinogenic effect of these factors.

Regional Variation in National Healthcare Expenditure and Health System Performance in Central Cities and Suburbs in Japan.

The increasing national healthcare expenditure (NHE) with the aging rate is a significant social problem in Japan, and efficient distribution and use of NHE is an urgent issue. It is assumed that comparisons in subregions would be important to explore the regional variation in NHE and health system performance in targeted municipalities of the metropolitan area of Tokyo (central cities) and the neighboring municipalities of Chiba Prefecture (suburbs). This study aimed to clarify the differences of the socioeconomic factors affecting NHE and the health system performances between subregions. A multiple regression analysis was performed to extract the factors affecting the total medical expenses of NHE (Total), comprising the medical expenses of inpatients (MEI), medical expenses of outpatients (MEO), and consultation rates of inpatients (CRI) and outpatients (CRO). Using the stepwise method, dependent variables were selected from three categories: health service, socioeconomic, and lifestyle. Then, health system performance analysis was performed, and the differences between regions were clarified using the Mann–Whitney U test. The test was applied to 18 indicators, classified into five dimensions referred to in the OECD indicators: health status, risk factors for health, access to care, quality of care, and health system capacity and resources. In the central cities, the number of persons per household was the primary factor affecting Total, MEI, MEO, and CRO, and the number of persons per household and the percentage of the entirely unemployed persons primarily affected CRI. In the suburbs, the ratio of the population aged 65–74 and the number of hospital beds were significantly positively related to Total, MEI, and CRI, but the number of workers employed in primary industries was negatively related to Total and MEI. The ratio of the population aged 65–74 was significantly positively related to MEO and CRO. Regarding health system performance, while risk factors for health was high in the central cities, the others, including access to care, quality of care, and health system capacity and resources, were superior in the suburbs, suggesting that the health system might be well developed to compensate for the risks. In the suburbs, while risk factors for health were lower than those in the central cities, access to care, quality of care, and health system capacity and resources were also lower, suggesting that the healthcare system might be poorer. These results indicate a need to prioritize mitigating healthcare disparities in the central cities and promoting the health of the elderly in the suburbs by expanding the suburbs’ healthcare systems and resources. This study clarified that the determinants of NHE and health system performance are drastically varied among subregional levels and suggested the importance of precise regional moderation of the healthcare system.

Assessing Depression and Suicidality Among Recently Unemployed Persons with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Socioeconomic Inequality.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common sleep-related breathing disorder that often is associated with several psychiatric conditions. Job loss is a stressful life event that can also affect mental health and socioeconomic status (SES). We investigated whether there was an association between the prevalence of OSA and several psychiatric conditions within a cohort of persons who recently became unemployed and whether SES was a contributing factor. Data from 292 participants who completed the screening evaluation of the Assessing Daily Activity Patterns through occupational Transitions (ADAPT) Study were used to assess the association between the prevalence of OSA, and current and past depression, and past suicidality. A type III sleep home sleep monitor was used to identify the presence of OSA and assess its severity. Depression and suicidality were ascertained using the Mini-international neuropsychiatric interview. Years of education was used as a proxy for SES. There were no significant associations between severity of OSA, SES and current depression, past depression, and suicidality. Past suicidality was noted to be more common among those who were single/widowed (17.4%) or those who were divorced or separated (11.1%) (p=0.027). Current depression was more common among Hispanics in comparison to non-Hispanics. Furthermore, prevalence rates of both depression and past suicidality were higher than previous reports in general populations. Within a cohort of individuals who experienced recent job loss, there was no association between OSA and depression or past suicidality. Prevalence rates of both depression and past suicidality were higher than previous reports in the general population.

Assessing Depression and Suicidality Among Recently Unemployed Persons with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Socioeconomic Inequality

Background: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common sleep-related breathing disorder that often is associated with several psychiatric conditions. Job loss is a stressful life event that can also affect mental health and socioeconomic status (SES). We investigated whether there was an association between the prevalence of OSA and several psychiatric conditions within a cohort of persons who recently became unemployed and whether SES was a contributing factor. Methods: Data from 292 participants who completed the screening evaluation of the Assessing Daily Activity Patterns through occupational Transitions (ADAPT) Study were used to assess the association between the prevalence of OSA, and current and past depression, and past suicidality. A type III sleep home sleep monitor was used to identify the presence of OSA and assess its severity. Depression and suicidality were ascertained using the Mini-international neuropsychiatric interview. Years of education was used as a proxy for SES. Results: There were no significant associations between severity of OSA, SES and current depression, past depression, and suicidality. Past suicidality was noted to be more common among those who were single/widowed (17.4%) or those who were divorced or separated (11.1%) (p=0.027). Current depression was more common among Hispanics in comparison to non-Hispanics. Furthermore, prevalence rates of both depression and past suicidality were higher than previous reports in general populations. Conclusions: Within a cohort of individuals who experienced recent job loss, there was no association between OSA and depression or past suicidality. Prevalence rates of both depression and past suicidality were higher than previous reports in the general population.

Unemployed + Sick = More Deserving? A Survey Experiment on How the Medicalization of Unemployment Affects Public Opinion.

The literature on the social legitimacy of welfare benefits has shown that sick persons are perceived more deserving than unemployed individuals. However, these studies examine sick and unemployed persons as distinct groups, while unemployment and sickness are in fact strongly related. Policymakers across Europe have been increasingly concerned with discouraging a medicalization of unemployment and activating sick unemployed persons. Therefore, it is crucial to understand welfare attitudes toward this group. Using a factorial survey fielded with a representative sample of German-speaking adults (N=2,621), we investigate how sickness affects attitudes toward a hypothetical unemployed person on three dimensions: benefit levels, conditions, and sanctions. Respondents allocated similar benefit levels to unemployed persons regardless of whether they have an illness. Yet, they were more hesitant to apply existing conditions (e.g., active job search, job training) or sanction benefits when the unemployed person was also sick. This is except for conditions that tie benefits to obligatory health services (back training or psychological counseling) which was supported by the majority of respondents. Our research shows that the German public is not more generous and only partially more lenient toward sick unemployed persons as there is strong support for conditions targeted at overcoming ill health for this group. The findings underscore that sickness matters for how unemployed persons are perceived, but the impact varies across different dimensions of welfare attitudes.

Mismatch unemployment in Austria: the role of regional labour markets for skills

ABSTRACT Over the past decade, the Beveridge curve in the Austrian labour market has shifted significantly outward. Using detailed administrative data on job vacancies and registered unemployed persons by region and skill level, we investigate which factors have caused this shift. We find that the Beveridge curve has shifted mainly because mismatch has increased significantly. Looking at the regional and skill level dimensions of mismatch unemployment, we find a significant increase in mismatch unemployment in manual routine jobs and in the Vienna region of Austria.

Evaluation of stillbirths and infant mortality before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective study

ABSTRACT Objective The maternal-child health services remain an important indicator to look at how different countries have handled the pandemic. This study aims to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and child healthcare use and evaluate data on stillbirths and infant mortality. Methods In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, a retrospective analysis was performed on 293 stillbirths and 324 infant deaths, which occurred in Samsun Province of Turkey between 1 March 2018 and 1 March 2021. The study period was examined in three groups as pre-pandemic period 1 (1 March 2018−28 February 2019), pre-pandemic period 2 (1 March 2019–29 February 2020) and pandemic period (1 March 2020–28 February2021). Results The study found that the share of difficulties in delivering health-care services to the families (may be due to reasons such as difficulty in accessing health services for those living in rural areas, disruption of the referral chain) in stillbirths and infant deaths has decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to previous years (p = 0.037 in stillbirths, p = 0.002 in infant deaths). The mean number of follow-up visits during pregnancy has partially reduced during the pandemic (p > 0.05). Other variables of the health-care services have remained similar to years before the pandemic (p > 0.05). The rate of families without health insurance (p = 0.001 in stillbirths, p = 0.001 in infant deaths) and unemployed persons contributing to family budget (p = 0.012 in stillbirths, p = 0.016 in infant deaths) has significantly decreased during the pandemic. Conclusions In our study, it was determined that the variables of stillbirth and infant mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic period, and maternal and child health services in primary care and hospitals continued to provide services in a similar way to the pre-pandemic period. Compared to pre-pandemic periods during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was found that while the number of stillbirths was similar, there was a significant decrease in infant mortality.