Psychology for Health Professionals
Employment is an important milestone in an individual’s adulthood development. It has an impact on the lifestyle and wellbeing of an individual in his adulthood. As much as it is an important step into adulthood development, employment and unemployment have a direct impact on an individual’s personal, social, and family life. The quality of employment, income, amount of working hours and working environment among others have an impact on the above-mentioned spheres of life.
Over employment, which occurs when one lands on a job beyond his skills, and underemployment where one lands on a job below his abilities and qualifications both have a negative impact on an individual’s health. Such situations are associated with stress, anxiety and other chronic diseases due to the work pressure (Barkway, 2009, Pg. 54). Better health is directly associated with employment, while poor health has a direct relationship with unemployment. Lack of income means no access to healthcare services as well as an individual’s exposure to poverty related diseases.
Employment offers a better access to healthcare services for family members. On the other hand, unemployment or loss of a job by the breadwinner in a family will affect the health status of the family. Quarrels and misunderstandings emerge between parents. Such financial stresses and strained relationship affect the children psychologically.
Unemployment affects the social networks and systems in the society. High levels of frustrations and stress related to the inability to provide basic needs leads to social crimes. During the great depression, researchers attributed the rise in crime rates to unemployment (Kirby, 2002, Pg. 308). The unemployment situation leads to a breakdown in social systems such as family, friends, workmates, and authorities.
Reference list
Barkway, P. (2009). Psychology for Health Professionals. Sydney: New York: Churchill Livingston/ Elsevier.
Kirby, M. (2002). Sociology in perspective. Oxford: Heinemann.
