Is Being Employed Always Better for Mental Wellbeing Than Being Unemployed? Exploring the Role of Gender and Welfare State Regimes during the Economic Crisis
Por:
Cortes-Franch, I, Puig-Barrachina, V, Vargas-Leguas, H, Arcas, MM, Artazcoz, L
Publicada:
1 dic 2019
Resumen:
The growth of poor jobs related to economic crisis adds to its increase since the mid-1970s as a result of new forms of flexible employment. In Europe, there is no clear evidence on whether working in a poor-quality job is better for mental wellbeing than being unemployed. The objectives of this study were to compare mental wellbeing between the unemployed and those working in jobs with different quality levels and to examine gender and welfare state differences in Europe. We selected 8324 men and 7496 women from the European Social Survey, 2010. Hierarchical multiple logistic regression models were fitted, separated by sex and country group. No significant differences in mental wellbeing were shown between unemployed-non-active, unemployed-active, and those working in low-quality jobs in either sex. Only men from Conservative countries in low-quality jobs had better mental wellbeing than unemployed (non-active) men. Only having a good-quality job reduced the likelihood of poor mental wellbeing compared with being unemployed (non-active) among men in all countries (except Social-Democratic) and among women in Eastern and Southern European countries. No differences were observed among men or women in Social-Democratic countries, while strong gender differences were found in Conservative and Liberal countries. Our study indicates the need to take job quality into account, in addition to creating jobs during economic crises. The main mechanisms to explain the strong gender and welfare state differences identified could be social protection for unemployed, labor market regulations, and family models.
Filiaciones:
Cortes-Franch, I:
Agencia Salut Publ, Hlth & Work Dept, Barcelona 08023, Spain
CIBERESP, Madrid 28029, Spain
IIB St Pau, Inst Biomed Res, Barcelona 08041, Spain
Univ Autonoma Barcelona, Dept Pediat Obstet & Gynecol & Prevent Med, E-08193 Barcelona, Spain
Puig-Barrachina, V:
Agencia Salut Publ, Hlth & Work Dept, Barcelona 08023, Spain
Vargas-Leguas, H:
Agencia Salut Publ, Hlth & Work Dept, Barcelona 08023, Spain
Univ Pompeu Fabra, Ctr Res Occupat Hlth, Barcelona 08002, Spain
Arcas, MM:
Agencia Salut Publ, Hlth & Work Dept, Barcelona 08023, Spain
Artazcoz, L:
Agencia Salut Publ, Hlth & Work Dept, Barcelona 08023, Spain
CIBERESP, Madrid 28029, Spain
IIB St Pau, Inst Biomed Res, Barcelona 08041, Spain
Univ Pompeu Fabra, Ctr Res Occupat Hlth, Barcelona 08002, Spain
Gold, Green Published
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