Survey of nearly 5,000 young adults reveals link between job insecurity and self-reported anxiety, depression<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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THURSDAY, Nov. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Job insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with self-reported anxiety and depression among U.S. young adults, according to a study published online Nov. 9 in the Journal of Adolescent Health<\/em>.<\/p>\n Kyle T. Ganson, Ph.D., from the University of Toronto, and colleagues evaluated the associations between job insecurity and symptoms of anxiety and depression among U.S. young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis included results from 4,852 young adults (aged 18 to 26 years) participating in the U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey (June 15 to 30, 2020).<\/p>\n The researchers found that 59 percent of participants experienced direct or household employment loss since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, 38 percent of respondents were expected to experience direct or household employment loss in the coming four weeks. Nearly two-thirds of participants (64 percent) reported feeling down, depressed, or hopeless; three-quarters reported being anxious, nervous, or on edge; and just over two-thirds (67 percent) reported having little interest or pleasure in doing things. Recent direct or household employment loss as well as expected direct or household employment loss were associated with a greater risk for poor mental health on four measures.<\/p>\n “It is important to support young people through robust unemployment benefit programs, as well as developing policies that expand health insurance and mental health treatment access,” the authors write.<\/p>\n