Page 121 - Petelin, Ana. 2020. Zdravje delovno aktivne populacije / Health of the Working-Age Population. Zbornik povzetkov z recenzijo ▪︎ Book of Abstracts. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
P. 121
importance of social determinants for health of unemployed ohranjanje in krepitev zdravja | maintaining and promoting health
women: a qualitative research
Gordana Šokić, Mirko Prosen
University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Polje 42, 6310 Izola, Slovenia
Introduction: The consequences of unemployment manifest at different lev-
els. The previous research shows that unemployed people often have financial
problems and are under stress and their social networks are more often trun-
cated. Their lifestyle can lead to the creation of conditions for health risk fac-
tors and consequently to increased chances for the development of chronic
non-communicable diseases. In research, we focused on the connection of so-
cial determinants of health within women’s unemployment with an emphasis
on their feelings and experiences.
Methods: In the research part, we used a quantitative methodology. The sam-
ple consisted of eleven unemployed women, aged 28-55 years, with whom we
did semi-structured interviews. The content analysis method was performed
in the following steps: transcriptions, interpretation, open coding of data, re-in-
terpretation and categorization into topics and subtopics.
Results: Four central themes identified (1) Challenges in ensuring a healthy life-
style, (2) Experiencing unemployment and time usage, (3) Impact of support
systems on coping with the unemployment and developing feelings of inferior-
ity, and (4) Changed circumstances due to the availability of resources. Some
interviewees’ perceived stress and mental health problems before losing their
jobs that may also be related to long-term unemployment. In the lifestyle of in-
dividuals, physical inactivity and poor eating habits have proved to be the es-
sential reasons for physical health problems. To maintain and promote health,
interviewees most often used alternative methods, such as relaxation tech-
niques and walks. Most of them viewed the period of unemployment as an op-
portunity to relax, to take new challenges and to reach new goals.
Different views on unemployment and the use of time were reflected based
on personal circumstances and a vision for the future. The time during this pe-
riod was tied to finding a job, and activities diverted mainly to home, family,
and household chores. They also experienced feelings of inferiority in inter-
personal relationships that were linked to prejudices and stereotypes about
the unemployed. Due to the truncated financial position, job search and rela-
tionships, interviewees had to adjust and find more appropriate ways to pro-
vide for their needs.
Discussion and Conclusions: The results show big differences in experience
between the interviewees, which prove the close connection and intertwining
nature of different social factors and circumstances concerning health. There
is also a strong influence from social networks on the behaviour of the unem-
ployed person, on the implementation of activities and the selection of a job
search strategy. On the primary level, the task of health professionals is, there-
fore, to focus more intensely on the discussed issue, provide the necessary
support for unemployed people with increased risk and special problems and
to direct attention towards programmes, which would help them.
Key words: social-economic factors, unemployment, lifestyle
119
women: a qualitative research
Gordana Šokić, Mirko Prosen
University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Polje 42, 6310 Izola, Slovenia
Introduction: The consequences of unemployment manifest at different lev-
els. The previous research shows that unemployed people often have financial
problems and are under stress and their social networks are more often trun-
cated. Their lifestyle can lead to the creation of conditions for health risk fac-
tors and consequently to increased chances for the development of chronic
non-communicable diseases. In research, we focused on the connection of so-
cial determinants of health within women’s unemployment with an emphasis
on their feelings and experiences.
Methods: In the research part, we used a quantitative methodology. The sam-
ple consisted of eleven unemployed women, aged 28-55 years, with whom we
did semi-structured interviews. The content analysis method was performed
in the following steps: transcriptions, interpretation, open coding of data, re-in-
terpretation and categorization into topics and subtopics.
Results: Four central themes identified (1) Challenges in ensuring a healthy life-
style, (2) Experiencing unemployment and time usage, (3) Impact of support
systems on coping with the unemployment and developing feelings of inferior-
ity, and (4) Changed circumstances due to the availability of resources. Some
interviewees’ perceived stress and mental health problems before losing their
jobs that may also be related to long-term unemployment. In the lifestyle of in-
dividuals, physical inactivity and poor eating habits have proved to be the es-
sential reasons for physical health problems. To maintain and promote health,
interviewees most often used alternative methods, such as relaxation tech-
niques and walks. Most of them viewed the period of unemployment as an op-
portunity to relax, to take new challenges and to reach new goals.
Different views on unemployment and the use of time were reflected based
on personal circumstances and a vision for the future. The time during this pe-
riod was tied to finding a job, and activities diverted mainly to home, family,
and household chores. They also experienced feelings of inferiority in inter-
personal relationships that were linked to prejudices and stereotypes about
the unemployed. Due to the truncated financial position, job search and rela-
tionships, interviewees had to adjust and find more appropriate ways to pro-
vide for their needs.
Discussion and Conclusions: The results show big differences in experience
between the interviewees, which prove the close connection and intertwining
nature of different social factors and circumstances concerning health. There
is also a strong influence from social networks on the behaviour of the unem-
ployed person, on the implementation of activities and the selection of a job
search strategy. On the primary level, the task of health professionals is, there-
fore, to focus more intensely on the discussed issue, provide the necessary
support for unemployed people with increased risk and special problems and
to direct attention towards programmes, which would help them.
Key words: social-economic factors, unemployment, lifestyle
119
