[Health and quality of life among long-term unemployed].

BACKGROUND

Many studies have shown an association between unemployment and poor health.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This cross-sectional survey from 1993-94 using structured interviews and questionnaires describes health and quality of life among 148 long-term unemployed in Lillesand, Norway.

RESULTS

Compared with the general population, somatoform conditions and anxiety symptoms were twice as common among the unemployed, and depression three times as common. There was a higher frequency of depression among unemployed men than among unemployed women. The unemployed had a lower quality of life score than the general population; the difference was more than twice as large among men as among women. Unemployed aged 30-39 reported the strongest symptoms of anxiety and depression.

INTERPRETATION

The reason why unemployed men are more often stricken by depression and report lower quality of life than women, may be that men experience the job-loss more existentially threatening than do women.