Comparison of unemployed and employed workers on work values, locus of control and health variables

Abstract

A 1/2% sample of metropolitan Adelaide households was selected using multi‐stage cluster sampling. Employed and unemployed workers were asked to complete a questionnaire which measured work values, patterns of home and leisure activity, locus of control (Rotter, 1966) and number of frequent health and stress symptoms. A 70% response rate was obtained for employed workers and the response rate for unemployed was 80%. Comparisons between the two groups were made using ‘t’ tests and discriminant function analysis. It was found that unemployed workers when compared to employed workers had significantly more physical health symptoms, lower work values (they desired less influence, interaction and pressure in their work), a higher external control orientation, and made more use of community helping agencies. Differences in reported stress and life satisfaction were not statistically significant. However, reported stress was positively correlated with time spent looking for work. Definite causal inferences cannot be made due to the survey design. Given the known behavioural correlates of Rotter's control scale, the results suggest job retraining schemes are not likely to lead to eventual work adjustment unless the retraining allows the unemployed to alter their general expectations about effort and work outcomes.