QUALITY OF ACTIVITIES AND THE ADJUSTMENT OF UNEMPLOYED YOUTH

This study examined the effects of different types of activity upon th e affective states, personal control, and work values of unemployed yo uth. Activities were identified as high or low quality depending on th e degree to which they required skill-utilisation, autonomy, interacti on, variety, and pressure. The study also examined the relative adjust ment of youth in employment with those in either high quality or low q uality unemployment. Initially, students were surveyed at school and t hen resurveyed when they were either unemployed, employed, or continui ng their education. Results showed that the quality of activity had no effect upon the level of adjustment of unemployed young people. Both groups of unemployed youth (high and low quality activities) had high depressive affect, lower life satisfaction, lesser commitment to the P rotestant work ethic, and lower levels of perceived competence than yo uth in employment.