IMPACT OF THE JOBS INTERVENTION ON UNEMPLOYED WORKERS VARYING IN RISKFOR DEPRESSION

Reports the results of the JOBS II randomized field experiment that in cluded a sample of 1,801 recent job losers, 671 of which participated in a modified version of the JOBS I intervention for unemployed worker s (Caplan, Vinokur, Price, & van Ryn, 1989). The intervention focused on enhancing the sense of mastery through the acquisition of job-searc h and problem-solving skills, and on inoculation against setbacks. JOB S II was intended to prevent poor mental health and to promote high qu ality reemployment. The study tested whether the efficacy of the inter vention could be increased by screening and oversampling respondents w ho were at higher risk for a significant increase in depressive sympto ms. Results demonstrated that the intervention primarily benefited the reemployment and mental health outcomes of the high-risk respondents. This suggests the feasibility of enhancing the efficacy of this preve ntive intervention by targeting it for high-risk unemployed workers wh o could be identified prospectively.