Pages: 31-62
Authors: György Ungváry, Éva Szakmáry, Richárd Plette, Ibolya Hegedűs, Péter Rudnai, Lilla Ungváry and Veronika Morvai

Introduction. In the first part of their studies on the quality of life of second generation unemployed, the authors found that the quality of the in-door and out-door environmental health status of second generation unemployed hardly reached or was even worse than that of the first-generation unemployed; this was particularly critical in the case of Roma people living in colonies. It was also found that the proportion of second-generation unemployed who were physically fit for physical work was significantly higher than that of the first-generation unemployed. The chance of first generation unemployed being physically unfit for work due to health reasons was 20.6 times higher, and second-generation unemployed 9.4 times higher than that of the active workers. The difference was age-dependent. Objectives of the present study were to explore the physical and mental health of the second generation Hungarian and Roma unemployed subjects of the first two studies as a basis of their ambition to social inclusion and their experience on the perceived opinion expressed towards them by the nearby “majority society”. Methods. Mental health and social relationships of 785 first and second generation Hungarian and Roma, male and female unemployed were examined by a specialist in occupational medicine, using a multiple mix-filled questionnaire suitable for general measurement of somatic and mental health-related quality of life, as well as a self-completed 13- item Beck Depression questionnaire, and a Lüscher colour-diagnostic (psychovegetative personality diagnostic) test. The data were analysed in part by descriptive statistics and comparisons were evaluated by Pearson’s chi-squared test. Results. By analysing data collected by means of medical examination methods (illnesses, physiological parameters: pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, etc.) as well as recorded on mixed-filled questionnaires, clinical data, interview or self-completed methods (distress symptoms, complaints), it was found that the physical and mental health of the second generation unemployed was better than that of the first generation unemployed. Regarding mental health status it is emphasized that strongly significant differences were found when evaluating the worrisome responses given to questions related to issues of emotional desires (emotional exhaustion, morning fatigue, frustration, regular work, dealing with others, power reserve, work ability) and stressor effects of unemployment (irritability, tension, etc.). However, in linear regression analysis, the generation variable lost its significance after gender and age correction. According to the data from the Beck Depression questionnaire, the prevalence of mild, moderate and severe depression was significantly higher among the first generation unemployed than among the second generation one, but their frequency among the second generation unemployed was still several times higher than the national average. Data from the Lüscher colour diagnostic test suggested that both the first and the second generation unemployed refused their current situation, and their attitude to an active action made them suitable to realize it. Discrimination (at the place of residence, during shopping, in public administration) was reported by second generation unemployed people even at a higher rate than by the first generation unemployed. Conclusion. In the health status of the first and second generation unemployed, unemployment caused psychic changes which were partly (and very largely) stress-dependent (primarily distress and distress-related), partly independent of the stressor effect of unemployment (the rejection attitude of both generations should be stressed). The results obtained by the used methods indicate that the mental health status of second-generation unemployed people makes them able to achieve – in case of appropriate environmental health and learning conditions, and obtaining appropriate education – that the worrying physical and mental health of first-generation unemployed should not affect them. However, considering the possibility of realization of these conditions, this task cannot be solved without external support – above all, and in a decisive way – the support of the government acting on behalf of the society. These results also indicate that in this period of their life – in the case of regular health maintenance and health promotion – the second-generation unemployed people are not only able to improve their living conditions, their quality of life, but they are also ready to contribute to the implementation of the latter and they also claim to actively participate in it. The frequency of discrimination against the second-generation (mainly Roma) unemployed people calls the attention to the worrying nature of the attitude of the surrounding “majority society”. Continuous stressor effects caused by long-term unemployment do not only cause health damage of the unemployed (primarily distress-related psychosomatic, psychiatric and behavioural illnesses) and more frequent incapacity to work compared to active workers, as it has already been demonstrated in previous studies, but they are also likely to include, besides the high frequency of continuous stressor-associated irritability, tension and behaviour of rejecting unemployment and their current quality of life, even the danger of unexpected solutions of all these.

Melléklet(ek):

Dokumentum neve	sorrend	Dátum
Ungváry - Quality		2021-10-08