Unemployment and Psychological Distress among Black American Women

Abstract

Abstract With data from a community-based survey of 245 black women, this study distinguishes those who view themselves as unemployed from those who are homemakers. Findings indicate that employed women and homemakers do not differ significantly in the level of depressive symptoms. On the other hand, unemployed women are significantly more depressed than employed women, irrespective of age, household income, level of education, marital status and presence of children in the household. Although poor physical health was related to high levels of depressive symptoms for unemployed and employed black women, high religiosity and satisfactory perceptions of social support from family members and friends were considerably more important in reducing distress among unemployed women in contrast to employed women.