Unemployed young adults age 18 to 25 years have three times greater odds of reporting depression compared with employed young adults, and Emory University study finds.
Researchers analyzed data from the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and found that nearly 12 percent of young adults were depressed and about 23 percent were unemployed. Significantly more unemployed than employed young adults were classified with depression.
Developmental factors, such as uncertainty related to the transition to adulthood and changes in social relationships and support structures, may contribute to different experiences of unemployment among young adults compared with older adults. Depression among unemployed young adults may be associated with stress because of delays in achieving developmental goals related to the transition to adulthood, including identity formation through exploring work opportunities. Alternatively, some may experience stressors similar to those of older adults, including stigma related to unemployment or material deprivation.
"With the current high rates of unemployment for this age group, this population may benefit from interventions that specifically focus on their employment status and their mental health," the researchers conclude.