Year: 2009
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This dissertation examined sense of coherence in the context of unemployment. Four main questions based on Antonovsky’s (1979, 1987a) theory and on earlier unemployment research were proposed. Firstly, the stability of sense of coherence following a labor market intervention and a change in life situation (reemployment) was studied. Secondly, sense of coherence was investigated as a moderator and as a mediator of the relationships between hardship factors and psychological distress during unemployment. Thirdly, it was examined whether the mediator effect of sense of coherence in hardships-psychological distress relationships was consistent under different situational circumstances (short vs. long-term unemployment). Finally, sense of coherence was investigated as a predictor of future changes in employment status of unemployed job-seekers. The studies were based on two samples: (1) unemployed job-seekers participating in return-to-work program (N=74), and (2) unemployed individuals participating in seven different labor market intervention programs (N=98). The results showed that sense of coherence changed over time following a labor market intervention program. Even greater improvement in overall sense of coherence was found among reemployed persons. Changes in the subcomponents of sense of coherence were not in line with each other as comprehensibility and manageability changed through an intervention but meaningfulness changed only following reemployment. Persons with weak personal resources showed to be more sensitive to changes, whereas younger age did not predict greater changes in individual’s sense of coherence. Also negative changes were found as poor work ability and lacking coping resources predicted weakening coherence levels over time. Low sense of coherence showed to be a mediator but not a moderator of the relationships between hardship factors (impaired work ability, problem drinking and financial strain) and psychological distress during unemployment. The indirect effect of hardships on psychological distress via sense of coherence was moderated by duration of unemployment: Sense of coherence acted as a mediator of hardships-distress relationships only among long- term unemployed persons. Strong baseline sense of coherence predicted reemployment and student status at the follow-up six months later. The results showed that sense of coherence enhanced the chances of getting out of unemployment by decreasing experienced psychological distress which in turn facilitated reemployment.
Author: Jaana Vastamäki
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Työsuojelurahasto
OpenAlex ID: W3136665050