Abstract

This study attempted co explore the laid-off workers' mental health and relative factors. 175 laid-off workers' who had been laid-off less than one year and received unemployment compensation participated in this study. The laid-off workers' mental health was classified into several factors by general health measure. Stress coping style, self-esteem, and social support were selected as their relative variables and the relationships between each factor of these variables and that of mental health were investigated. The unemployed had more difficulty with loss of control over their life than social dysfunction or somatization. And under the stress, they tended to cope by comforting themselves or having wishful thought than adopting specific coping style or avoiding. In social support, emotional support was higher than instrumental support. These results showed that we need to approach more specifically rather than broadly to understand their mental health. These findings suggest that detailing the weak point of the unemployeds' mental health can be more effective in showing the type of specific psychological intervention needed.