BEHAVIORAL PLASTICITY AND MENTAL-HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED ATTENDING OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING-PROGRAMS

This paper reports on immediate and delayed mental health outcomes for a group of long-term unemployed individuals who attended occupational skills/personal development training courses. Results for participant s were compared with a waiting-list control group. Outcomes investigat ed were well-being (depression, psychological distress, self-esteem, l ife-satisfaction, guilt, anger, helplessness), attitude to work (emplo yment expectations, employment commitment, employ ment value) and life -situation (social support, financial strain, use of community resourc es). Immediate benefits were identified for five of the well-being and one attitude-to-work variables. Few gains persisted at follow-up. Beh avioural plasticity effects for well-being and attitude-to-work variab les were identified by comparing outcomes for participants who had low er scores prior to the course with participants who reported higher sc ores at thai dme.