title: Psychological well-being and reactions to multiple unemployment events: adaptation or sensitisation?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Unemployment has been negatively associated with psychological well-being. This study examines the effect of multiple unemployment spells, specifically whether people become sensitised or adapt to unemployment if they are previously employed or economically inactive.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data come from waves 1-17 of the British Household Panel Survey. Psychological well-being was measured using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and employment status was self-reported. Multilevel modelling was used to examine the effects of unemployment, overall and by previous employment status, on well-being.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Without consideration of prior employment status, psychological well-being was poorer at each unemployment spell. Previously employed persons had significantly higher GHQ-12 scores at the first and second unemployment spells but not at the third spell (p(trend)<0.0001). Previously economically inactive persons had poorer psychological well-being at all unemployment spells, with significantly higher scores at the third spell than those at the first two spells (p(trend)=0.0004). Thus, those employed prior to all unemployment spells adapted, while those previously economically inactive became more sensitised with additional unemployment spells. Pre-study unemployment and average annual household income moderated the effects of unemployment; effects varied by previous employment status and unemployment spell number.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that initially employed people who experience repeated unemployment cope better psychologically if they are able to regain employment in between unemployment spells. Those who make several attempts to re-enter the labour market following economic inactivity have a more difficult time, becoming more distressed with each try. This has implications for people affected by welfare to work policies.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK. cbooker@essex.ac.uk
authors.forename: Cara L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Booker
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sacker
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D015987:Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology