Summary information

Study title

Social and Psychological Consequences of Unemployment in Young People, 1982-1983

Creator

Ullah, P., Medical Research Council/Economic and Social Research Council Social and Applied Psychology Unit
Warr, P. B., Medical Research Council/Economic and Social Research Council Social and Applied Psychology Unit
Banks, M. H., Medical Research Council/Economic and Social Research Council Social and Applied Psychology Unit

Study number / PID

2026 (UKDA)

10.5255/UKDA-SN-2026-1 (DOI)

Data access

Restricted

Series

Not available

Abstract

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.


This two-stage longitudinal aimed:
i) to assess the effect of duration of unemployment on labour market attachment;
ii) to assess the effect of duration of unemployment on psychological well-being;
iii) to determine the moderators of i) and ii), including social networks, social supports and pressures.


Main Topics:

i) Sex, ethnic group and personal histories of unemployment, employment and special measures.
ii) Job search and aspirations.
iii) Labour market attitudes, and disaffection.
iv) Psychological well-being, health and personality.
v) Social supports, networks and pressures.
vi) Subcultural features of unemployment.
vii) Area differences.
viii) Prediction of success in finding employment.
ix) Training aspirations.
x) Perceptions of the unemployed.
Standard Measures:
i) General health Questionnaire, Zung Depression and Anxiety, sociability and achievement orientation measures.
ii) Item batteries on: employment commitment, unemployment orientation, labour market disaffection, job search attitude, attitudes to employment.
iii) Composite scales of social pressures and supports.
For a full account of origin of the measures see Warr P.B., Banks M.H. and Ullah P.B. (1985) 'The experience of unemployment among black and white urban teenagers' British Journal of Psychology 76, p.75-87.

Methodology

Data collection period

01/01/1982 - 01/01/1983

Country

England

Time dimension

Longitudinal/panel/cohort
two waves

Analysis unit

Individuals
National
Minority groups
Unemployed
Young people

Universe

Unemployed young people

Sampling procedure

A) A sample of registered unemployed 17 year olds was drawn from 11 urban areas in England. All members were required to have left school appromimately 12 months earlier (in the spring or summer of 1981) at the minimum school-leaving age of 16, with no more than two `O' levels or CSE equivalents. All had been unemployed for at least four weeks and none was registered disabled. Potential respondents were contacted outside Unemployment Benefit Offices and Careers Offices, and through youth clubs and centres for unemployed people. The final sample contained males and females, whites and West Indians.
B) The follow-up sample was boosted by the inclusion of 550 young people, with the same characteristics

Kind of data

Not available

Data collection mode

Face-to-face interview
Psychological measurements

Access

Publisher

UK Data Service

Publication year

1985

Terms of data access

The Data Collection is available to UK Data Service registered users subject to the End User Licence Agreement.

Commercial use of the data requires approval from the data owner or their nominee. The UK Data Service will contact you.

Related publications

  • Warr, P., Ullah, P. and Banks, M. (1984) 'Unemployment and less qualified urban young people', Employment Gazette, 343-346
  • Banks, M. and Ullah, P. (1985) ' Social support, social pressures and psychological distress during unemployment', Psychological Medicine
  • Trew, K. and Kilpatrick, R. (1985) 'Lifestyles and psychological well-being among unemployed men in Northern Ireland', Journal of Occupational Psychology
  • Ullah, P. and Banks, M. (1985) 'Youth unemployment and labour market withdrawal', Journal of Economic Psychology
  • Warr, P. Warr, P. and Ullah, P. (1985) 'The experience of unemployment among black and white urban teenager', British Journal of Psychology, 75-87
  • Ullah, P. (1985) 'Disaffected black and white youth :: the role of unemployment duration and perceived job discrimination', Ethnic and Racial Studies