New research has found that the loss of a job can lead to financial difficulties and health problems, including diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease and heart attack.
“In today’s economy, the loss of a job, can happen to anyone and there may be health consequences that cause negative effects.” Kate Strully conducted the research at the Harvard School of public health. The study appears in the May 8 issue of demographics.
Strully’s analysis of information on a wide range of occupations: professional, management, sales, office work and craft, operators of machines and job service offices.

When the job loss was the result of a closure, white or blue collar workers had a 54% probability of reporting fair or poor health. And the chances for a new health problems increased by 83% among those who had not already previously reported health problems.  Differences between employers and employees dismissed or voluntarily leaving a job were unexplained.

• The loss of jobs more than doubled the likelihood of reporting fair or poor health among blue collar workers. Yet there was little or no impact on the health of white collar workers. Even if these workers find new jobs, the increased risk of stress associated with health problems, the investigation remained.

This research was supported by a historic Gallup Poll released during March. In fact, almost every day in 2008 and still ongoing, the study of 355,334 people is the longest and largest study, which shows how the emotional changes with the economic changes.
The study called Emotional Health Index (EHI) – a measure that weighs the negative, such as depression, stress and fear of positive emotions of a person with experience.
Among the highlights of the study:

• The condition of EUI in connection with the high level of deaths from diseases such as heart disease, explains the analyst Raksha Arora (Gallup). States with lots of space and sunshine – Hawaii, Alaska, and Wyoming – has some of the best emotional health, even if the economy has collapsed. Many poor in the rust states – West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky – were worse.
• There are hardly any differences of race, but the Hispanics, the largest and fastest minorities, had the poorest emotional health during the year.

The survey was a joint effort between Gallup and Healthways. “The results of the investigation are not surprising people in mental health care” said David Baron, chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. “The recession has hit the people in almost all areas of life,” says Baron.
The relationship between the disease and of the EUI sense adds Stevan Hobfoll, Psychologist Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Depression increases smoking and drinking and discourage exercise, but also increases the risk of diseases of the heart. “he says.

• The investigation shows that people 30 to 55 years, may be the most affected with bad news on the economy, according to Gallup Arora.

• During times of stress, it is critical to find methods to maintain peace of mind, inner calm and good mental health. Psychiatrist Judith Orloff in her book, Emotional Freedom, suggests practical steps build healthy emotional habits, and manage difficult emotions.

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