Covid-19 Pandemisi Döneminde İş Arayan Beyaz Yakalıların Psikososyal Sağlıklarını Etkileyen Faktörlerin İncelenmesi

Abstract

This research aims to examine the psychosocial problems of middle-aged white-collar workers as a result of job loss, analyse the relationships between the factors affecting their psychosocial health levels, and explore their unemployment experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic. The study was conducted in a mixed method design based on the ecological system approach. The sociodemographic questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Financial Difficulty Scale, Self-efficacy Scale, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, Unemployment Attribution Scale and Coping Styles Scale were applied. The data were analysed with the SPSS package program, and Independent Sample t-Test, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation and Hierarchical regression analysis were performed. In the qualitative part, a phenomenological approach was used, and in-depth interviews were conducted online with 12 white-collar job seekers with the help of a semi-structured interview form. Data were analysed using MAXQDA software. The average age of the white-collar unemployed in the sample is 33.37 (±4.17), more than half of them are single, and 69% have no children. Average unemployment times are 17.23 (±17.09) months. More than two-thirds could not benefit from unemployment benefits (75%). It is seen that structural factors predominate in the references to the cause of unemployment (64%). Young adults, single people, those with serious financial difficulties, those with low levels of social support and those who use emotion-focused coping methods are at risk for the psychological distress caused by unemployment. Those who are married, have children, have high perceived social support, and use problem-focused coping more frequently are more resistant to the psychological distress caused by unemployment. Factors were supporting the level of subjective well-being; perceived social support, problem-focused coping methods, and high self-efficacy; Financial hardship and psychological distress harm the psychosocial health of the unemployed. It is seen that the precarious working conditions in the current labour market negatively affect the mental health of the individual. The poverty experienced in the unemployment process, the deterioration of the structure of time, uncertainty, and job search conditions in the labour market lead to destruction in the people's emotional, familial, social, and belonging relations. Psychosocial interventions focusing on the unemployed persons should strengthen their mental well-being levels, and include eco-systemic and macro level interventions.