@article{ref1,
title="The effect of employment status in postdisaster recovery: a longitudinal comparative study among employed and unemployed affected residents",
journal="Journal of Traumatic Stress",
year="2018",
author="Bosmans, Mark W. G. and van der Velden, Peter G.",
volume="31",
number="3",
pages="460-466",
abstract="Population studies have shown that employed adults are healthier than unemployed adults. In this study, we examined whether this &quot;healthy worker effect&quot; is relevant in postdisaster mental health by examining whether trauma-exposed employed individuals have lower postdisaster initial mental health problems and/or whether they recover faster than trauma-exposed unemployed individuals. We compared the course of postevent intrusion and avoidance reactions, anxiety, depression, and sleeping difficulties of employed residents (n = 291) and unemployed residents (n = 269) affected by a fireworks disaster in a residential area of Enschede, The Netherlands. Measurements took place at 2-3 weeks (T1), 18 months (T2), and 4 years (T3) postdisaster. We used linear mixed-effect models to examine the course of mental health problems. Employment status was relevant, to a degree, in posttrauma recovery; although affected employed residents had significantly lower levels of mental health problems (initially and over time) than the unemployed, ds = 0.41-0.72, the recovery rate was the same for both groups. At T1 (neglecting the DSM 1-month criterion), T2, and T3, the prevalence of probable posttraumatic stress disorder was 45.4%, 18.9%, and 11%, respectively, among employed individuals, and 70.1%, 32.5%, and 30% among unemployed individuals. We concluded that research into the mental health of disaster victims should take employment status into account. Regarding postdisaster care, unemployed individuals may need special attention; although they may recover at the same rate as employed individuals, they suffer from more severe mental health problems, even years after the disaster.<br><br>Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Traumatic Stress published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0894-9867",
doi="10.1002/jts.22282",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jts.22282"
}