Job Loss May Cause Depression

That pink slip could be a ticket to depression, according to a study published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology.

Examining the connection between job loss and depression, researchers interviewed 756 people who had recently lost their jobs and were looking for new jobs. They were from diverse educational backgrounds, and their average age was 36.

"Unemployment can start a vicious cycle of depression, loss of personal control, decreased emotional function and a decline of physical health," said Richard H. Price, Ph.D., lead author of the study and professor of psychology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

And simply finding a new job might not be the cure. The researchers found that the chain of adversity - job loss, financial strain, depression, loss of personal control, decreased emotional functioning and declining physical health - continued for more than two years, even after re-employment.

"These findings suggest that increases in depression and loss of personal control with those who lose their jobs can have adverse affects on health and emotional functioning for longer than the initial triggering event - job loss - possibly interfering with finding another job," Price said.

Trapped in worries

Uncertainty about the future is also a major problem, according to Robert C. Chope, Ph.D., professor of counseling and coordinator of the Career Counseling Program at San Francisco State University in California. He is the author of the book "Dancing Naked: Breaking Through the Emotional Limits That Keep You From the Job You Want".

Very often depression strikes professional people who thought they had a very predictable career path. "People have undergraduate degrees and master's degrees and thought they would have work for the rest of their lives, and now that belief has been violated," Chope said.

Among the unemployed, feelings of uncertainty are compounded by the fear that even if they do find a new job, there's no guarantee their new company will survive in the current economy, Chope said.

Emotional stages of job loss

According to Chope, feelings about job loss go through four stages:

• Shock.
• Denial.
• Hope that things will work out.
• Depression when hopeful expectations are not realized.

Chope said this pattern usually takes about four or five months to play out.

Signs of depression

Chope described some of the symptoms people report during unemployment:

• Sleeplessness.
• Changes in appetite.
• Excessive alcohol use.
• Not taking care of themselves.

Depression continues after re-employment

Even after a person has found a new job, depression may persist. According to Chope, when people have found new jobs, they are concerned about losing them. They are afraid they will have to go through the whole process again -- but this time, they'll be older and won't have the needed skills. People with these fears react by:

• Toeing the company line.
• Not being as creative as in previous jobs.
• Becoming more self-protective.

Empowerment during job loss

It's important to remain hopeful during times of job loss and unpredictability. Chope suggests the following tips for finding a new job:

• Network with people.
• Be imaginative and creative.
• Consider alternatives to one traditional job such as three part-time jobs.

"People should pursue their own uniqueness," Chope said. He also suggests that people stop negative self-talk. A huge amount of depressed thoughts can be wiped out just by stopping negative talk. People also need to attend to their appearance and attempt to look better, promote healthier habits, create self-affirmations and believe in their own abilities.

"If you think you can, you might. If you think you can't, you're right."

Related Articles Types of Depression Treating Depression More Than Just the Blues

External Sources American Psychological Association National Institute of Mental Health Price RH, Choi JN, Vinokur AD. Links in the chain of adversity following job loss: how financial strain and loss of personal control lead to depression, impaired functioning, and poor health. J Occup Health Psychol. 2002;7:302-312.

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.

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