Unemployment Has Positive Side

While unemployment may create emotional distress, it also provides the opportunity for other activities and to find more meaningful work, according to two recent reports.

A recent Gallup poll of mood in 2,843 adults over 18 showed that 88 percent of those who had been unemployed for one month or less reported feeling enjoyment in the previous 24 hours, compared to 87 percent of people who were employed.

Rates of enjoyment for those unemployed for up to six months were 85 percent, just slightly lower than those who were employed. After six months, the rate of enjoyment dipped to 79 percent. Still, that means only 6 percent of those who had been unemployed long-term experienced no enjoyment in the past day – a much smaller drop than expected.

The study shows that. Those who had been unemployed for six months or more were almost three times more likely to have experienced sadness in the past day, 34 percent compared to 12 percent. They were almost twice as likely to experience worry, 55 percent to 28 percent among the currently employed.

Unemployment can be an emotional rollercoaster, increasing negative emotions like worry, sadness and stress more than it reduced positive emotions like happiness, enjoyment, and laughing.

According to Dr. Wendy Ulrich, unemployment is also an excellent opportunity to find more meaningful work — which is an important factor in happiness. Time off  may also provide the opportunity to volunteer, which has been shown to be effective in elevating mood. Dr. Ulrich is the co- author of The Why of Work: How Great Leaders Build Abundant Organizations that Win.

Ulrich points out that a period of unemployment can allow workers to recharge, assess their strengths, and decide how best to help others in the future. Her book also describes how corporations can create positive routines at work and a culture that supports meaningful work.

Being employed was almost as stressful as being unemployed for one month, at 40 percent compared to 42 percent. Not surprisingly, the level of stress greatly increased after six months of unemployment, to 54 percent. Still, that shows that almost half of the study participants who had been unemployed for six months or longer did not report feeling stressed during the past day.

By Joni Holderman, [email protected], contributing reporter for Mental Health News.