Financial distress and suicidal behaviour during COVID-19: Family identification attenuates the negative relationship between COVID-related financial distress and mental Ill-health.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Stevenson C
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8543569 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Financial distress and suicidal behaviour during COVID-19: Family identification attenuates the negative relationship between COVID-related financial distress and mental Ill-health.
Stevenson Clifford C Wakefield Juliet Ruth Helen JRH
Journal of health psychology 20210714 14
COVID-19 provides a 'perfect storm' of social and economic suicide risk-factors. Recent research has evidenced an initial impact of the pandemic upon suicide rates, but has yet to understand how elevated financial threat and social isolation may predict suicide ideation/behaviour, or which social factors promote resilience. This study addressed these shortcomings. An online longitudinal survey study (<i>N</i> = 370) which took place from May to September 2020 showed COVID-related financial distr ...[more]
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Project description:BackgroundThis analysis posits that COVID-19-related worker mental distress may be different for those continuously employed and for those who faced temporary job loss.MethodsMental distress during COVID-19 is characterized using two nationally representative surveys, the American Trend Panel (ATP) and the Household Pulse Survey (HPS). Using a probit model, we examine workplace perceptions for the mentally distressed in the ATP sample. We use graphical analysis to identify barriers to seeking mental healthcare using the 2021-22 HPS sample.ResultsIn October 2020, the probability of mental distress increased between 7.1 and 9.1 percentage points in response to worsening work-life balance, lowered job security, lowered work productivity and lowered work satisfaction. Workers' perception of advancement denial and poor connectivity with coworkers increased the probability of mental distress by 3.0-5.8 percentage points. In October 2021, over 40% of workers who had experienced job loss reported mental distress as compared to 20% of those with jobs. Only 25% of those with mental distress sought counseling. These high levels of mental distress continued into October 2022.ConclusionsMitigation strategies for worker mental health should include prosocial nudges, attention to employment history, managerial sensitivity and worker resilience training.
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