Grounded theory study on embitterment among labor-underutilized adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objectives: This study conceptualized how labor-underutilized adults in Korea experienced embitterment during the COVID-19 pandemic and identified the social and psychological conditions and processes through which this state of embitterment emerged and persisted. Methods: A grounded theory approach was applied, wherein semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten labor-underutilized adults recruited via a national panel service. Data collected between November 2022 and February 2023 were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding following Strauss and Corbin’s procedures. Results: Analysis identified 56 concepts, 13 categories, and 33 subcategories. The core process showed a cyclical pattern of embitterment characterized by emotional eruptions, resignation, and chronic emotional suppression. Causal conditions involved repeated invalidation between employment and unemployment and identity erosion within stigmatizing relationships. Contextual factors included workplace disruption, perceived labor injustice, and weakened social trust. Coping centered on self-blame and emotional restraint, leading to social isolation and psychosomatic fatigue, while available supports provided temporary relief. Conclusion: Embitterment among labor-underutilized adults functioned as a social emotion reinforced by structural inequality and perceived injustice. These findings highlight the need for crisis preparedness strategies that restore social trust and emotional well-being through relational and institutional interventions, promoting recognition and reintegration of marginalized workers.