Negative Consequences of Unemployment - Essay Example

Unemployment is one of the most severe economic problems that have faced America in the last few decades; this was especially during the recession when over 6.7 million jobs were lost. Savings dwindled and many investments went under, today over 15 million Americans are without formal employment (Basset); this is a sobering figure considering that almost half of them were employed but lost their jobs at some point. Unemployment has a myriad of consequences that affect the unemployed and the nation at large, this range from economic, social, and even psychological problems.

This paper will focus on some of the psychological and social effects and negative consequences of unemployment in the modern day. Lack of employment can lead to the decline of individuals or families ultimately translating even to the development of children that may result in negative outcomes. Studies carried out among the unemployed showed that the majority of them experience problems such as lack of sleep depression as well as poor feeding and stress. This in turn makes them venerable to a plethora of psychological, psychosomatic, and even physical illnesses.

In addition; the affected individuals are more likely to engage in self-destructive and anti-social behavior such as drug use or involvement in abusive prelateships as well as having a high propensity for suicide. As aforementioned, stress is one of the most common negative health effects of joblessness, the fact that one is out of work does is not the only source of stress, they need to keep paying their power water, and other bills. These needs were easy enough to fulfill when they are employed; however, when these have to be addressed with no permanent source of income individuals are stressed and often have to come up with ways of surviving (Bolger).

Friends and family may make matters worse by directly or indirectly implying that one is not trying enough, one ends up spending nights awake thinking about the situation and may end up suffering from blood pressure. While the connection between money and health may not be immediately apparent, the two, in modern living cannot be divorced from each other. For one to buy whole bread one needs to have money they will need medication if they get sick; ultimately, when one is out of work and funds, one will have limited health and lifestyle choices (Rabin).

As a result, one will likely end up resorting to cheap foods such as junk that are unhealthy and this will contribute to the potential decline of their health due to their lack of nutrients. Human beings are social by nature and to thrive, they need to have social interactions with friends colleagues, and family among other groupings. However, when one loses employment, they lose contact with their co-workers, and socializing with their friends becomes hard especially if one does not have the money to spend on outings.

The low self-esteem which often results from sudden termination of work forces one to withdraw from active social circles and isolate themselves to avoid the shame of explaining why they no longer go to work. Unfortunately, during this time when one is vulnerable to depression and stress is when they need the association with other people most to reduce the negative feelings, however, this alienation likely exposes them to further stress. Unemployed people also have a higher tendency to abuse drugs and alcohol in an attempt to escape from the harsh reality of a jobless existence, when drugs are used as a coping mechanism they are detrimental to health and wellbeing.

The burden of unemployment will affect children in that the unemployed parent is likely to vary their frustration on their children; this is manifested in an increased propensity for abusive and arbitrary punishment. When someone loses their job, they lose more than their source of income; they are without stability and in a way dignity; they cannot afford health insurance for their family, rent, and sometimes even food and clothing. As a result, the whole basis of their lives and that of their dependents slowly disintegrates resulting in a sense of responsibility for the problems and eroding one's self-esteem and sense of self-worth.

In some cases, families break up when one of the partners cannot cope with the other's unemployment and this results in the disruption of both their lives and those of their children. At the end of the day, unemployment results in considerable difficulties for everyone involved starting from the unemployed individual, their family, and even the society that will have to deal with the people they become after they lose their jobs.