TY - JOUR
T1 - Gender differences in the effect of unemployment on psychological distress
AU - Ensminger, Margaret E.
AU - Celentano, David D.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2014 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 1990
Y1 - 1990
N2 - In this paper we examine whether unemployment has a differential impact on the expression of psychological distress among men and women. Based on the traditional centrality of the work role to men and the family role to women, we defined several key domains that might affect unemployed men and women differentially: family circumstances, concerns and worries about children and family; coping responses; social support and social integration; and the centrality of the work role. While the study population either were or hoped to be in the labor force and had dependent children, they varied in their marital status and whether they were the custodial parent. Using data collected in Baltimore from those who had been unemployed but had returned to work, those who had remained continuosly unemployed for a year, and those who had been continuously employed, we compared the patterns of men's and women's reactions to unemployment. The important differences in psychological symptoms in this population were related to employment status, problems with parenting, financial difficulties, perceived lack of social support, hostility, and feelings about unemployment. By and large, the patterns of these relationships were similar for men and women. These findings suggest that when gender in ferences in psychological distress are found they may be due to differences in role configurations of men and women rather than intrinsic gender differences.
AB - In this paper we examine whether unemployment has a differential impact on the expression of psychological distress among men and women. Based on the traditional centrality of the work role to men and the family role to women, we defined several key domains that might affect unemployed men and women differentially: family circumstances, concerns and worries about children and family; coping responses; social support and social integration; and the centrality of the work role. While the study population either were or hoped to be in the labor force and had dependent children, they varied in their marital status and whether they were the custodial parent. Using data collected in Baltimore from those who had been unemployed but had returned to work, those who had remained continuosly unemployed for a year, and those who had been continuously employed, we compared the patterns of men's and women's reactions to unemployment. The important differences in psychological symptoms in this population were related to employment status, problems with parenting, financial difficulties, perceived lack of social support, hostility, and feelings about unemployment. By and large, the patterns of these relationships were similar for men and women. These findings suggest that when gender in ferences in psychological distress are found they may be due to differences in role configurations of men and women rather than intrinsic gender differences.
KW - coping
KW - gender differences
KW - psychological distress
KW - unemployment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0025197742&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0025197742&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0277-9536(90)90349-W
DO - 10.1016/0277-9536(90)90349-W
M3 - Article
C2 - 2315729
AN - SCOPUS:0025197742
SN - 0277-9536
VL - 30
SP - 469
EP - 477
JO - Social Science and Medicine
JF - Social Science and Medicine
IS - 4
ER -