The Impact of Unemployment on Mental Health Problems among Adults in Pakistan

Unemployment is one of the most common causes of mental health problems however, it has Unemployment has rarely been studied among adults in Pakistan, despite being widely observed and discussed on a day-to-day basis. The objective of this study is to address this gap and examine the effect of unemployment on mental health problems, operationalized as depression, anxiety, and stress. The study adopted a cross-sectional correlational design and purposive sampling technique to collect data from Pakistani adults (aged at least 18 years, both genders) with at least an intermediate qualification. The study included two questionnaires: the Unemployment Syndrome Scale, and DASS (21-tems, shorter version), to assess the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. The findings indicate a significant association between unemployment and depression, anxiety, and stress. Moreover, the regression analysis also shows a significant effect of unemployment on depression, anxiety, and stress among Pakistani adults. The study provides useful implications for mental health professionals, parents, and the government to play a positive role in addressing these issues.