Psychophysiological effects of temporary alternative employment

Twenty-one participants in a mobilising labour market project offering temp orary, alternative employment in Sweden were followed longitudinally for on e year, including a six month post-participation follow-up period. Earlier analyses of self-rated psychosocial data have indicated consistent improvem ents in mental health and quality of life. In the present study, however, a significant rise in serum prolactin, plus decreased dehydro-epiandro-stero ne sulphate levels and tendencies towards increased alanine aminotransferas e, gamma -glutamyl transferase and diastolic blood pressure, seem to discon firm the hypothesis that biological markers of psychosocial health would im prove in a similar fashion. It is speculated that this apparent inconsisten cy could be part of a protective adaptation to long-term unemployment simil ar to the cocooning tendencies in maternal behaviour. Specifically, we argu e that this could protect against the stress of being in an uncontrollable and 'helpless' situation by facilitating a re-focusing on more private matt ers as opposed to 'hopeless' job seeking. While being potentially detriment al for people with fair chances on the labour market, it is possible that s uch an adaptation may be helpful for more vulnerable groups. (C) 2001 Elsev ier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.