Paul KI, Moser K (2006)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2006
Book Volume: 79
Pages Range: 595-622
The present paper is concerned with the effects of incongruence between a person’s
level of employment commitment (measured with scales of work involvement, Protestant
work ethic or similar concepts) and his or her current employment situation (employed
or not employed). We hypothesize that this kind of incongruence (a) is a typical
characteristic of the unemployment situation and (b) is systematically associated with
diminished well-being and mental health. Meta-analyses of empirical data endorse both
hypotheses. (a) Employed people show only marginally stronger levels of employment
commitment than unemployed people (d ¼ 0:11, equivalent to r ¼ :05). Both groups are
characterized by high mean levels of employment commitment. Therefore, unemployed
people are in an incongruent situation, while employed people are not. (b) Incongruent
levels of employment commitment, that is, high levels among the unemployed and low
levels among the employed, are significantly associated with psychological distress
(mixed symptoms of distress: r ¼ :19; depression: r ¼ :19; anxiety: r ¼ :14; subjective
well-being/life satisfaction: r ¼ :13; self-esteem: r ¼ :08). In sum, available cross-sectional
data clearly endorse the incongruence model. Meta-analyses of longitudinal data,
although based on small sample sizes, are also consistent with the model.
APA:
Paul, K.I., & Moser, K. (2006). Incongruence as an explanation for the negative mental health effects of unemployment: Meta-analytic evidence. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 79, 595-622. https://doi.org/10.1348/096317905X70823
MLA:
Paul, Karsten Ingmar, and Klaus Moser. "Incongruence as an explanation for the negative mental health effects of unemployment: Meta-analytic evidence." Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology 79 (2006): 595-622.
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