Abstract

The present study investigated the effects of involuntary job loss on the unemployed's reactions(emotional, cognitive, and somatization) and coping behavior(functional, dysfunctional and the width of job-seeking network), depending upon individual characteristics(such as hardiness, self esteem, sex-role attitude, job-seeking efficacy, and attributional tendency) and social support(emotional, instrumental and religious). Using a survey questionnaire, data were collected from 270 unemployeds. The main results were as follows: 1) Financial distress had significant effects on psychological distress and somatization, but not on the reemployment expectation: 2)Three dimensions of hardiness had significant, but different effects on individual reactions and coping behavior of the unemployed: 3) Negative change in self esteem after job loss was positively related to psychological distress and somatization: 4) job-seeking efficacy tended to increase the width of job-seeking network, reemployment expectation and functional coping behaviors: 5) traditional sex-role attitude had a negative effect on the width of job- seeking network among the married male unemployed. 6) Emotional support from spouse was found to decrease the psychological distress and somatization of the unemployed, whereas instrumental support increased their reemployment expectation and functional coping behavior. 7) Two interaction effects were found significant. These research findings indicate that both deprivation theory and agency restriction theory are equally valid.