The long-lasting impact of unemployment on life satisfaction: results of a longitudinal study over 20 years in East Germany

摘要

Since 1990, almost all citizens of the East German states had experienced unemployment either themselves or within their family and acquaintances. The experience of unemployment in East Germany was a mass phenomenon with profound consequences [5]. A large number of studies have reported various links between unemployment and adverse psychological reactions, such as a higher number of mental disorders or more global aspects of daily life, such as impaired life satisfaction [6, 7]. Earlier studies concluded that the non-monetary effect of unemployment is much higher than the impact of the associated loss of income [8]. The consequences of unemployment include loss of social contact and identity, along with reduced self-esteem.