SOCIAL-CLASS, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS

Attempts to explain variation in rates of psychological distress by so cial class have included reference to social selection, differential e xposure to stress, and differential vulnerability arising from inequal ities in access to resources. Our analysis draws on data from a nation al survey of the Republic of Ireland in order to examine these hypothe ses. No evidence to support the social selection hypothesis was found. In addressing the issue of differential rcsponsiveness, attention was focused on the interaction between unemployment and social class in t heir impact on psychological distress. While rather weak support for t he hypothesis of differential vulnerability was found among women, our examination of the impact of husband's unemployment provided no evide nce leading in this direction. Among men unemployment actually had a s tronger impact for men in higher social classes. The major factors lea ding to social class differences in psychological distress are greater exposure to unemployment and economic deprivation.