Citation

Ganson KT, Tsai AC, Weiser SD, Benabou SE, Nagata JM. J. Adolesc. Health 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.10.008

PMID

33183926

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aimed to estimate the associations between job insecurity and symptoms of anxiety and depression among U.S. young adults amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS: We analyzed data on young adults aged 18-26 years from June 15 to June 30, 2020, from the weekly, cross-sectional Household Pulse Survey (n = 4,852) conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. Two job insecurity measures and four anxiety and depression measures were analyzed using multivariable Poisson regression models adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and marital status.

RESULTS: Fifty-nine percent of participants experienced direct or household employment loss since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and 38% were expected to experience direct or household employment loss in the coming 4 weeks. Recent direct or household employment loss and expected direct or household employment loss, among participants who did not experience recent employment loss, were associated with a greater risk of poor mental health on all four measures.

CONCLUSIONS: U.S. young adults experience a significant mental health burden as a result of job insecurity amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Language: en

Keywords

Young adults; Depression; Anxiety; Job insecurity; Unemployment; COVID-19