Employment Uncertainty and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic Initial Social Distancing Implementation: a Cross-national Study

Mary Ruffolo*, Daicia Price, Mariyana Schoultz, Janni Leung, Tore Bonsaksen, Hilde Thygesen, Amy Østertun Geirdal

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

51 Citations (Scopus)
86 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in changes in the work environment and employment uncertainty. This paper reports on a cross-national comparison of four countries (Norway, UK, USA and Australia) and examines the differences in mental health between those individuals employed and those not employed during the social distancing implementation. Methods: Participants (N = 3,810) were recruited through social media in April/May 2020 and were invited to complete a self-administered electronic survey over a 3-week period. Differences between those employed and those not employed with regard to their sociodemographic characteristics and mental health were investigated with chi-square tests, independent t tests, and one-way analysis of variances (ANOVAs). Results: Compared with their counterparts, participants who were employed reported lower levels of mental health distress (p < 0.001), higher levels of psychosocial well-being (p < 0.001), better overall quality of life (p < 0.001), and lower levels of overall loneliness, social loneliness, and emotional loneliness (p < 0.001). Small to medium but consistent differences (Cohen’s d = 0.23–0.67) in mental health favor those with employment or those who were retired. Conclusion: Further study is needed to assess mental health over time as the COVID-19 pandemic and employment uncertainty continues.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)141-150
Number of pages10
JournalGlobal Social Welfare
Volume8
Issue number2
Early online date7 Jan 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2021

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus
  • economic uncertainty
  • employment
  • mental health
  • social distancing
  • Economic uncertainty
  • Employment
  • Social distancing
  • Mental health

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