English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Zendy Plus

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Zendy Tools

Zendy Open

Population studies have shown that employed adults are healthier than unemployed adults. In this study, we examined whether this “healthy worker effect” is relevant in postdisaster mental health by examining whether trauma‐exposed employed individuals have lower postdisaster initial mental health problems and/or whether they recover faster than trauma‐exposed unemployed individuals. We compared the course of postevent intrusion and avoidance reactions, anxiety, depression, and sleeping difficulties of employed residents ( n  = 291) and unemployed residents ( n  = 269) affected by a fireworks disaster in a residential area of Enschede, The Netherlands. Measurements took place at 2–3 weeks (T1), 18 months (T2), and 4 years (T3) postdisaster. We used linear mixed‐effect models to examine the course of mental health problems. Employment status was relevant, to a degree, in posttrauma recovery; although affected employed residents had significantly lower levels of mental health problems (initially and over time) than the unemployed,  d s = 0.41–0.72, the recovery rate was the same for both groups. At T1 (neglecting the  DSM  1‐month criterion), T2, and T3, the prevalence of probable posttraumatic stress disorder was 45.4%, 18.9%, and 11%, respectively, among employed individuals, and 70.1%, 32.5%, and 30% among unemployed individuals. We concluded that research into the mental health of disaster victims should take employment status into account. Regarding postdisaster care, unemployed individuals may need special attention; although they may recover at the same rate as employed individuals, they suffer from more severe mental health problems, even years after the disaster.

The Effect of Employment Status in Postdisaster Recovery: A Longitudinal Comparative Study Among Employed and Unemployed Affected Residents