THE EFFECT OF UNEMPLOYMENT ON MENTAL HEALTH: A STUDY ON THE UNIVERSITY GRADUATES OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

Though unemployment is directly associated with individuals' health and lifestyle, the nature of the relationship and intensity for specific groups in different socioeconomic conditions is not universal. The study addresses the unemployed university graduates of Bangladesh to understand the relationship of unemployment and mental health. The study aims to assess the effect of unemployment on mental health of unemployed university graduates of Bangladesh. The effect is examined on 385 unemployed graduates. Data were collected through online survey using a semi-structured questionnaire that included the 12-item General Healthcare Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Data were collected using a four-point un-weighted Likert scale. Later on, the data were coded using adjusted Caseness scale to avoid the constraints of marginal values, and to address chronic distress of the respondents. The study observes the presence of a moderate to high degree of mental illness due to unemployment. The respondents were primarily unemployed due to failure of getting a destined job despite their attempt. The independents variables—age, unemployed time, and time between employment and graduation— have significant impacts on mental illness of the respondents. However, sex and mental health remain inconclusive in this study. Mental distress is observed in three latent factors—psychological disorder, social and emotional dysfunction and cognitive disorder—among the respondents. Age, duration of unemployment, and time elapsed after graduation have positive effects on mental illness.