Psychological Health of Unemployed Young Jobseekers: Roles of Financial Hardship, Economic Threat, and Parental Pressure

Abstract

This study investigates the interactions between financial hardship, economic threat, parental pressure, and their combined effects on psychological distress among young job seekers. A sample of 200 young people (aged 20-35 years) was used. Participants completed the Financial Hardship Scale, the Economic Threat Scale, the Parent Career-Related Behavior Checklist, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. Correlation analyses revealed significant positive correlations between financial hardship and economic threat (r = .24, p < .001); between parental pressure and financial hardship (r = .19, p < .05); and economic threat (r = .18, p < .05). Negative correlations were found between mental health and financial hardship (r = -.33, p < .001); economic threat (r = -.21, p < .001); and parental pressure (r = -.20, p < .001; .05). Path analysis showed that parental pressure significantly predicted financial hardship (β = .575, p < .05); economic threat (β = .248, p < .05); and psychological distress (β = 1.089, p < .001). Furthermore, financial hardship predicted economic threat (β = .337, p < .001); psychological distress (β = .411, p < .001); and economic threat also predicted psychological distress (β = .184, p < .001). These results highlight the complex interactions between family expectations, economic stress, and mental health of young adults in the labor market and suggest the need for targeted interventions and support measures.