Mental Health and Employment Status: A Preliminary Study

Nearly 200 people were administered the Langner-22 index of mental health. They were divided into five groups depending on their employment status: full-time employed, part-time employed, unemployed, retired, and students. Although there were no age or sex differences in the total mental-health score, there was a significant difference between the five employment groups' total score, with full-time employed people having the lowest score and unemployed people the highest score. There was, however, no significant difference between the scores of the part-time employed and unemployed, which were moderately high, and of students and retired people, which were intermediate. The results are discussed in terms of the nature of employment in relation to mental health, and in terms of the nature of part-time employment.