Work

Inequality in Household Job Insecurity and Mental Health: Changes During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: Using nationally representative data from the Household Pulse Survey (April 2020-March 2021), we examined how associations between household job insecurity and mental health changed throughout the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States ( n = 1,248,043). We also documented changes in the unequal distribution of job insecurity by race/ethnicity and educational attainment over time. We find that job insecurity was strongly associated with depression and anxiety throughout the study period, and the associations strengthened as the pandemic continued, especially in fall 2020. Moreover, racial/ethnic minorities with lower levels of educational attainment had the greatest risk of job insecurity, and educational disparities in job insecurity changed over time. Psychological distress during the pandemic, including disparities therein, must be considered a public health priority.

Source: Work and Occupations

DOI: 10.1177/07308884221123255

Authors: Rachel Donnelly, Rachel Zajdel, Mateo P. Farina

Institutions: Vanderbilt University, National Institutes of Health, University of Southern California

Language: English

Topic: Employment and Welfare Studies

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Mental Health