Do they adapt or react? A comparison of the adaptation model and the stress reaction model among South African unemployed

Yannick Griep, Elfi Baillien, Wouter Vleugels, Sebastiaan Rothmann and Hans De Witte
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Yannick Griep: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
Elfi Baillien: HU Brussel, Belgium; KU Leuven, Belgium
Wouter Vleugels: KU Leuven, Belgium; Thomas More Antwerpen, Belgium
Sebastiaan Rothmann: North-West University, South Africa
Hans De Witte: KU Leuven, Belgium; North-West University, South Africa

Economic and Industrial Democracy, 2014, vol. 35, issue 4, 717-736

Abstract: This study investigates affective experience as a function of unemployment duration in South Africa. The study contrasts two models. The stress reaction model proposes a linear decrease of affective experience as unemployment prolongs. The adaptation model assumes a curvilinear pattern between affective experience and unemployment duration. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with contrast revealed no differences in affective experience between short-term ( N = 101), long-term ( N = 152) and very long-term ( N = 119) unemployed. The findings do not favour either of the models, yet indicate that unemployment is a severe stressor regardless of its duration. These results underline the need for structural changes (e.g. delivering unemployment benefits, stimulating job creation) in order to overcome the negative affective experiences of the South African unemployed.

Keywords: Adaptation; affective experience; South Africa; stress; unemployment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:35:y:2014:i:4:p:717-736

DOI: 10.1177/0143831X13495719

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