The benefits of a preventive job search program on re-employment and mental health at 2-year follow-up

• Published in: Journal of occupational and organizational psychology Vol. 78; no. 1; pp. 43 - 52
• Main Authors: Vuori, Jukka, Silvonen, Jussi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2005; British Psychological Society; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; Case studies; Causes of; Depression; Effects; Employment; Field study; Finland; Followup studies; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Groups; Hypotheses; Job hunting; Job search; Job searching; Labor market; Long term unemployed people; Medical sciences; Mental depression; Mental health; Mental illness; Mentally ill; Mood disorders; Occupational psychology; Occupations; Organizations; Prevention; Preventive strategies; Psychological aspects; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Questionnaires; Self esteem; Statistical analysis; Unemployment; United States; Vocational rehabilitation; Vocational training; Welfare programmes; Workers; United States; Finland; Mood disorder; Human; Participation; Attitude; Depression; Personality; Research; Experimental study; Unemployment; Symptomatology; Employment; Follow up study; Self esteem; Job satisfaction; Workshop
• ISSN: 0963-1798; 2044-8325
• DOI: 10.1348/096317904X23790

This study investigated whether a preventive, group‐based job search program has long‐term beneficial effects on the re‐employment and mental health of participants who have been unemployed for a prolonged period of time. A total of 1,227 unemployed Finnish job seekers participated in this randomly assigned experimental field study. Participation in the programme significantly decreased symptoms of depression, and increased the self‐esteem of the participants during the 2 years of follow‐up. Compared to the control group, the participants of the experimental group were engaged significantly more often in the labour market, either employed, or participating in vocational training.