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The National Study of Work-search and Wellbeing

The National Study of Work-search and Wellbeing

23% of recent JSA claimants had a common mental disorder like anxiety or depression.

from : The National Study of Work-search and Wellbeing findings

About this study

This is the first national study dedicated to examining the psychological health and wellbeing of Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) claimants. It was commissioned by the Health, Work and Wellbeing Directorate at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The findings indicate that common mental disorders (CMDs) like anxiety and depression contribute to poorer employment outcomes, in part because by their nature, they erode beliefs about abilities and optimism about the future. But entering employment can support recovery.

More broadly, the study has shown that mental health is rooted in the context of people's lives. Poor physical health, low levels of social support, neighbourhood context and adverse life events all play a role in whether or not someone will experience a decline in mental health during a period of unemployment. However, there is an important distinction for policy-makers to consider between people who arrive on JSA with relatively stable employment histories having developed symptoms of distress as a result of recent life events, and those for whom a mental health condition is one issue among an array of longstanding life adversities.

Read the summary and the full report here

Timeline

Potential Policy Impact

Neurotic symptoms form a wide spectrum and are common among jobseekers. This partly stems from their wider adverse social and economic circumstances. It is important that the impact of this wider context is recognised by the staff who have contact with claimants. People with even relatively mild neurotic symptoms have lower confidence in their work-search abilities. Support aimed at improving perceptions of job search self-efficacy should be targeted widely, and not just at those with the most severe neurotic or other mental health symptoms. It may not be evident to staff which claimants have mild neurotic symptoms.

Some findings suggest that it may be beneficial to consider how best to bring up the issue of mental health and identify needs associated with mental health among claimants. People described reluctance to admitting to having mental health problems. However, where health was discussed with a PA this was generally found to be helpful, though its discussion was not widespread and there was evidence to suggest that health discussions tended to focus more on physical health problems.

Methods

The respondents for this study are people of working age and who have recently claimed Jobseekers Allowance. The study is made up of three parts:

1. an initial 20-30 minute telephone interview about work history and mental wellbeing
2. a shorter follow-up telephone interview three months later to assess any change in employment status and mental wellbeing
3. qualitative face to face interviews of up to an hour and a half in length with 30 respondents, to provide in depth description of individual experiences of unemployment, job seeking and wellbeing

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