Cl. Broman et al., RACE, GENDER, AND THE RESPONSE TO STRESS - AUTOWORKERS VULNERABILITY TO LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT, American journal of community psychology, 23(6), 1995, pp. 813-842
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.