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The impact of unemployment on the psychological well-being of British Asians

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Manfusa Shams  and
Paul R. Jackson
Manfusa Shams*
Affiliation:
MRC/ESRC Social and Applied Psychology Unit, University of Sheffield
Paul R. Jackson
Affiliation:
MRC/ESRC Social and Applied Psychology Unit, University of Sheffield
*
1 Address for correspondence: Dr Manfusa Shams, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Care and Social Studies, University of Luton, Park Square, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 3JU.
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Synopsis

This paper presents the results of a study of unemployment among British Asians living in the north of England. The sample comprises 139 employed and unemployed men. Using standardized psychological questionnaires with a semi-structured interview schedule, the psychological consequences of unemployment are examined in relation to other psychosocial variables. The results showed that the unemployed group had lower levels of psychological well-being, selfesteem, and employment commitment with high external beliefs, than the employed group. Length of unemployment was a significant determinant of psychological well-being and respondents with a longer period of unemployment had a lower level of psychological well-being than those who had been unemployed for a shorter period. The findings are examined in the context of existing empirical evidence, and the need to examine the psychological impact of unemployment among other British Asian groups is emphasized.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 24 , Issue 2 , May 1994 , pp. 347 - 355
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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