Job insecurity versus unemployment: Unequal in socioeconomic status but comparable detrimental effects on mental health and health care utilization [Arbeitsplatzunsicherheit vs. Arbeitslosigkeit: Trotz der Unterschiede im sozio?konomischen Status sind die Auswirkungen auf psychische Gesundheit und Inanspruchnahme von Gesundheitsleistungen ?hnlich]

摘要

Knowledge about differential effects of unemployment and job insecurity on mental health and health care utilization are of high relevance. There are no studies which compare unemployed persons and persons with an insecure job in terms of different mental health indicators, and which investigate the mediating effect of mental health on health care utilization. Somatoform symptoms, anxiety, depression, physical health, and health care utilization were assessed in 161 unemployed persons, 218 persons with an insecure job, and 957 securely employed persons. Unemployed persons and persons with an insecure job showed equally worse mental health than securely employed persons on average. They also had significantly higher health care utilization. Mental health was a full mediator between job insecurity and unemployment on the one hand and health care utilization on the other hand. An adequate mental health care is necessary for unemployed persons as well as for persons with an insecure job.