COVID-19-related job insecurity linked to young adult mental health burden
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Job insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant mental health burden among young adults, according to study results published in Journal of Adolescent Health.
“We hoped to understand the impact job insecurity, including both recent employment loss and anticipated employment loss, has on the mental health of young adults aged 18 to 26 years amidst the COVID-19 pandemic,” Kyle T. Ganson, PhD, MSW, of Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto, told Healio Psychiatry. “This age group is likely employed in positions that do not allow for a work-from-home option, such as hospitality. Thus, they may be more susceptible to employment loss due to lockdowns and slowdowns in the economy.”
Ganson and colleagues analyzed data from June 15 to June 30 of 4,852 young adults in this age range who were included in the weekly, cross-sectional Household Pulse Survey, which was conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. They analyzed two job insecurity measures and four anxiety and depression measures using multivariable Poisson regression models, which they adjusted for race/ethnicity, age, sex, marital status and education.
Results showed direct or household employment loss since the COVID-19 pandemic began among 59% of participants. In the coming 4 weeks following survey administration, 38% of participants expected to have direct or household employment loss. Among those who experienced or anticipated employment loss, the indicators of poor mental health were two to six times higher. Multivariable regression models showed an association between experiencing recent employment loss and higher risk for experiencing symptoms of anxiety, worry, loss of interest and depression. The researchers also observed an increased risk for these four outcomes among those who expected employment loss but who had not experienced recent employment loss.
“We hope that these findings provide medical and mental health professionals greater understanding of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on young adults' mental health,” Ganson said. “These findings may also provide context as to why young adult clients may be experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms; thus, clinicians should be assessing the employment status of their young adult clients. Assisting young adult clients in enrolling in unemployment benefits and other social welfare supports is one simple step clinicians can take to help reduce these symptoms.”