Job loss and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national prospective cohort study
Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic caused substantial increases in unemployment; however, the association between these job losses and psychological distress is not well documented. Our study reports on this association from a cohort study, with a particular focus on educational differences i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16303-5 |
| _version_ | 1797769338203144192 |
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| author | Jonathan Wörn Bjørn-Atle Reme Vegard Skirbekk |
| author_facet | Jonathan Wörn Bjørn-Atle Reme Vegard Skirbekk |
| author_sort | Jonathan Wörn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic caused substantial increases in unemployment; however, the association between these job losses and psychological distress is not well documented. Our study reports on this association from a cohort study, with a particular focus on educational differences in both the likelihood of job loss and its potential implications for mental health. Methods Utilizing data from a large prospective cohort study of parents in Norway (n = 58,982), we examined changes in psychological distress within four groups of respondents: those who during the first wave of COVID-19 had (i) no change in their employment situation, (ii) worked from home, (iii) been furloughed, or (iv) lost their job. Results Psychological distress increased in all groups. In z-scores relative to pre-pandemic levels, the increases were (i) 0.47 [95%-CI: 0.45–0.49] among respondents with no change in their employment situation, (ii) 0.51 [95%-CI: 0.49–0.53] among respondents who worked from home, (iii) 0.95 [95%-CI:0.91–0.99] among those furloughed, and (iv) 1.38 [95%-CI: 1.16–1.59] among those who permanently lost their job, corresponding to increases of 89%, 95%, 170%, and 185%, respectively. While respondents without university education had a 2 to 3 times higher risk of job loss, the negative impact of job loss on psychological distress was similar across educational levels. Conclusions Participants exposed to job loss during the pandemic experienced a stronger increase in symptoms of depression or anxiety compared to those who remained employed. Although higher education lowered the risk of losing work, it did not substantially diminish the impact on mental health from losing work. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:07:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f4be08bca1164f18bc3742559cec4001 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:07:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-f4be08bca1164f18bc3742559cec40012023-07-30T11:26:21ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-07-012311610.1186/s12889-023-16303-5Job loss and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national prospective cohort studyJonathan Wörn0Bjørn-Atle Reme1Vegard Skirbekk2Center for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public HealthCenter for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public HealthCenter for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public HealthAbstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic caused substantial increases in unemployment; however, the association between these job losses and psychological distress is not well documented. Our study reports on this association from a cohort study, with a particular focus on educational differences in both the likelihood of job loss and its potential implications for mental health. Methods Utilizing data from a large prospective cohort study of parents in Norway (n = 58,982), we examined changes in psychological distress within four groups of respondents: those who during the first wave of COVID-19 had (i) no change in their employment situation, (ii) worked from home, (iii) been furloughed, or (iv) lost their job. Results Psychological distress increased in all groups. In z-scores relative to pre-pandemic levels, the increases were (i) 0.47 [95%-CI: 0.45–0.49] among respondents with no change in their employment situation, (ii) 0.51 [95%-CI: 0.49–0.53] among respondents who worked from home, (iii) 0.95 [95%-CI:0.91–0.99] among those furloughed, and (iv) 1.38 [95%-CI: 1.16–1.59] among those who permanently lost their job, corresponding to increases of 89%, 95%, 170%, and 185%, respectively. While respondents without university education had a 2 to 3 times higher risk of job loss, the negative impact of job loss on psychological distress was similar across educational levels. Conclusions Participants exposed to job loss during the pandemic experienced a stronger increase in symptoms of depression or anxiety compared to those who remained employed. Although higher education lowered the risk of losing work, it did not substantially diminish the impact on mental health from losing work.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16303-5Job lossMental healthCOVID-19Social inequality |
| spellingShingle | Jonathan Wörn Bjørn-Atle Reme Vegard Skirbekk Job loss and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national prospective cohort study BMC Public Health Job loss Mental health COVID-19 Social inequality |
| title | Job loss and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national prospective cohort study |
| title_full | Job loss and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national prospective cohort study |
| title_fullStr | Job loss and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national prospective cohort study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Job loss and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national prospective cohort study |
| title_short | Job loss and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national prospective cohort study |
| title_sort | job loss and psychological distress during the covid 19 pandemic a national prospective cohort study |
| topic | Job loss Mental health COVID-19 Social inequality |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16303-5 |
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