RACE, GENDER, AND THE RESPONSE TO STRESS - AUTOWORKERS VULNERABILITY TO LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT

A three-wave panel study of auto plant closings focused on the mental health effects of unemployment on blue-collar workers. This paper expl ores how the impact of long-term unemployment varies across race and g ender. We also examine whether other demographic factors can themselve s modify the impacts of race and gender Dependent variables include tw o measures of distress and two drinking measures. Results showed that the effect of long-term unemployment on distress and drinking was more severe among less educated workers, and responses of blacks were espe cially sensitive to level of education. In addition, men showed a grea ter association of long-term unemployment with depression (and to some extent anxiety) than did women. Marriage affected the responses of me n but not of women, and of whites but not of blacks. Explanatory varia bles-the worker's experiences of financial hardship, other negative li fe events and lack of a confidant - largely accounted for male-female differences. We conclude by discussing theoretical implications of the se effects and address the limitations of the traditional term ''vulne rability'' in describing them.