Exploring health-related quality of life among young unemployed adults with a mental illness

Purpose Young unemployed individuals with mental health problems face elevated risk of poor health, which complicates their reintegration into the labor market. Despite its public health relevance, this group remains insufficiently explored. This study aims to examine unemployed young adults aged 18–29 years with mental disorders and their health-related quality of life (HRQoL), considering both physical and mental dimensions. The authors further analyzed associations with sociodemographic, employment-related and health-related factors. Design/methodology/approach The authors analyzed cross-sectional data from the LIPSY project, including 148 unemployed participants with at least one ICD-10 F-diagnosis. HRQoL was measured using the 12-item Short-Form Survey (SF-12), providing a physical component summary (PCS) and a mental component summary (MCS). Two multiple regression analyses tested associations between HRQoL (outcomes: PCS, MCS) and predictors: age, gender, education, partnership status, duration of unemployment (≤24 vs > 24 months), work experience, work ability score (WAS), depressive symptoms (patient health questionnaire) and somatization (mini-symptom checklist). Findings Higher PCS was associated with being female and with higher self-perceived work ability, whereas longer unemployment, previous work experience and somatization were linked to lower PCS. Higher MCS was related to greater work ability and longer unemployment, while depressive symptoms were negatively associated. Originality/value The data show that both physical and mental HRQoL are substantially impaired in young unemployed individuals with mental health disorders. This highlights the need for targeted support in healthcare and vocational rehabilitation.