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Ability levels, mental health, and attitudes-to-work of the chronic long-term unemployed

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 May 2015

Peter A. Creed  and
Meaghan A. Poulton
Peter A. Creed*
Affiliation:
School of Applied Psychology Griffith University
Meaghan A. Poulton
Affiliation:
Centre for Development and Training Queensland Health
*
School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, PMB 50 Gold Coast Mail Centre 4217, Telephone: 07 5594 8810, Facsimile: 07 5594 8291, E-mail: p.creed@mailbox.gu.edu.au
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Abstract

An emerging unemployment issue has been the growing number of job seekers who have been out of work for very long periods of time. Those who have been unemployed for 5 years or more, the chronic long-term unemployed (CLTU), are the subject of this research. This paper reports on the results of an assessment of 47 CLTU job seekers undertaken as part of a strategy aimed at identifying needs and generating return-to-work strategies for this group. Variables investigated were general ability (Standard Progressive Matrices, de Lemos, 1989), literacy (ACER Applied Reading Test, van den Berg & Woff, 1990), mental health (General Health Questionnaire, Goldberg, 1978; Symptom Checklist-90-R, Derogatis, 1983; State of Anxiety and Depression Scale, Bedford, Foulds & Sheffield, 1976) and work commitment. The CLTU differed from the general population on intellectual and reading ability by being over-represented in the lower ranges. The group reported mental health levels poorer than non-patient normative samples, but above levels of psychiatric in- or out-patients. Despite this, the CLTU reported high levels of work commitment. These initial findings point to the special needs of the CLTU. Implications for policy makers and those working with the unemployed are highlighted.

Type
Articles
Information
South Pacific Journal of Psychology , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , 1998 , pp. 1 - 14
Copyright
Copyright © University of Papua New Guinea and the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, Northern Territory University, Australia 1998

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