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Self-rated quality of life among the young unemployed and the young in work in northern Sweden
Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordic School of Public Health NHV. Mid-Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden.
bGothenburg Research Institute (GRI) School of Business, Economics and Law, Gothenburg University, Göteborg, Sweden.
2008 (English)In: Work: A journal of Prevention, Assessment and rehabilitation, ISSN 1051-9815, E-ISSN 1875-9270, Vol. 30, no 4, p. 461-472Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

This study analysed self-assessed quality of life (QoL), using a QoL questionnaire (Hörnquist's QLcs) covering life spheres, somatic health, mental well-being, cognitive ability, social and family life, activity, financial situation, meaning in life and a global score "entire life", for young people aged 18–24 in a population-based cross-sectional study in northern Sweden. Of these, 651 were unemployed and 2802 were in work (employed, students and in military service). Results showed that the young unemployed exhibited poorer QoL than the young in work and the greatest difference was found regarding their financial situation. Young men rated somatic health and mental well-being higher than young women. However, QoL in other essential domains was rated higher by young women in work. Close friends and money reserve were important for all participants, no matter whether they were employed or not. The risk of being young and unemployed was greater if the person had a worse financial situation, shorter education, and fewer leisure activities with other people. Finally, it was concluded that while QoL is poorer when in unemployment – both for the young and those who are older (aged 25–64) – psychological well-being, in contrast to several previous studies, is even poorer for young people than for those who are older. This is worrying in a public health perspective and could have implications for unemployment policies for younger and less well-educated age groups.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
IOS Press, 2008. Vol. 30, no 4, p. 461-472
Keywords [en]
Unemployment, Young, Quality of Life, Health
National Category
Medical and Health Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:norden:org:diva-25PubMedID: 18725709OAI: oai:DiVA.org:norden-25DiVA, id: diva2:699984
Available from: 2014-03-03 Created: 2014-03-03 Last updated: 2020-06-09Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Self-rated quality of life among unemployed people and people in work in northern Sweden
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Self-rated quality of life among unemployed people and people in work in northern Sweden
2007 (English)Licentiate thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Alternative title[sv]
Självskattad livskvalitet bland arbetslösa och sysselsatta i norra Sverige
Abstract [en]

Self-assessed quality of life (QoL) is analysed using a QoL questionnaire (Hörnquist’s QLcs) covering the life spheres: somatic health, mental well-being, cognitive ability, social and family life, activity, financial situation, meaning in life and a global score for ‘entire life’. In all, 487 unemployed and 2917 employed subjects aged 25-64; and 651 unemployed subjects and 2802 in work (including employment, studying and military service) in the 18-24 age group, were investigated in a population-based cross-sectional study on life and health in northern Sweden in 1997. In line with previous findings, results showed that unemployed people exhibited poorer QoL.The greatest difference between unemployed people and those in work was in the financial domain (18-24, 25-64). Unemployed women (aged 25-64) rated the final values of QoL – ‘entire life’ and meaning in life – higher than unemployed men did. In the young group (aged 18-24), unemployed women did not rate any of the domains higher. The young unemployed men rated somatic health and mental well-being higher. Interaction effects were interpreted in the following way: a) unemployed men (aged 25-64) were worst off in the global domain ‘entire life’; b) employed respondents, having a university/college education was beneficial for QoL, while for unemployed respondents (25-64) it was not; c) in the young group (aged 18-24), people in work rated their activity higher than unemployed people, and the effect was strengthened when they were regularly active during leisure. Close friends and cash reserve were important for all participants, no matter whether they were employed or not. The risk of being young and unemployed was greater if the person had a shorter education, worse economy (according to their own ratings) and was in the upper half of the age group (aged 21-24). Finally, the conclusion that QoL is poorer when in unemployment – both for the young and those who are older (aged 25-64) – is in line with earlier findings; however, in contrast to three previous studies, we conclude that psychological well-being is even poorer for young people than for those who are older. Intervention, in terms of steadily improved labour market conditions to counteract the negative effects of exclusion from the labour market, is of great importance from a public health perspective.

Abstract [sv]

Självskattad livskvalitet (QoL) har analyserats med ett QoL instrument (Hörnquist’s QLcs) omfattande livsdomänerna: kroppslig hälsa, psykiskt välbefinnande, kognitiv förmåga, socialt liv, sambo/familjeliv, aktivitet, ekonomi, livsmening och en global skattning för ’hela livet’. Totalt, 487 arbetslösa och 2917 anställda i åldrarna 25-64; och 651 arbetslösa och 2802 i sysselsättning (anställda, studerande och värnpliktiga) i åldersgruppen 18-24 år, undersöktes i en befolkningsenkät (tvärsnittsstudie) om hälsa och livsvillkor i norra Sverige 1997. Som i tidigare studier visade resultaten sämre QoL bland de arbetslösa. Största skillnaden mellan arbetslösa och sysselsatta fanns i den ekonomiska domänen (18-24, 25-64). Arbetslösa kvinnor (25-64) skattade finala värden av QoL – ’hela livet’ och livsmening - högre än arbetslösa män. I den unga gruppen (18-24), skattade inte arbetslösa kvinnor högre i någon av livsdomänerna. De unga arbetslösa männen skattade kroppslig hälsa och psykiskt välbefinnande högre. Interaktionseffekter tolkades på följande sätt: a) arbetslösa män (25-64) låg sämst till i den globala domänen ’hela livet’; b) bland de anställda var universitets/högskolexamen fördelaktigt för QoL men inte bland de arbetslösa (25-64); c) i den unga gruppen (18-24) skattade de sysselsatta aktivitet högre än de arbetslösa, och effekten stärktes ytterligare när de var regelbundet aktiva på sin fritid. Nära vänner och tillgång till kontanter var viktiga för alla deltagare, oavsett om de var i sysselsättning eller inte. Risken att vara ung och arbetslös var större om individen hade kortare utbildning, sämre ekonomi (enligt deras egna skattningar) och befann sig i den övre halvan av åldersgruppen (21-24). Till sist, slutsatsen att QoL är sämre när man är arbetslös – både för unga och de äldre (25-64) – överensstämmer med tidigare forskning; dock, i motsats till tre tidigare studier, är det psykiska välbefinnandet sämre bland de unga jämfört med bland de äldre. Intervention, i form av stadigt förbättrade arbetsvillkor för att motverka negativa effekter och utestängande från arbetsmarknaden, är av stor betydelse i ett folkhälsoperspektiv.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Göteborg: Nordic School of Public Health NHV, 2007. p. 45
Series
Master of Science in Public Health, MScPH, ISSN 1404-904X ; 2007:2
Keywords
Unemployment, Quality of Life, Health, Well-being, Arbetslöshet, Livskvalitet, Hälsa, Välbefinnande
National Category
Medical and Health Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:norden:org:diva-26 (URN)978-91-85721-23-8 (ISBN)
Supervisors
Available from: 2014-03-03 Created: 2014-03-03 Last updated: 2014-03-25Bibliographically approved

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