Employment Disruption and Wellbeing Among Young Adults: A Cross-National Study of Perceived Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown

Lijun Li (), Joyce Serido, Rimantas Vosylis, Angela Sorgente, Žan Lep, Yue Zhang, Gabriela Fonseca, Carla Crespo, Ana Paula Relvas, Maja Zupančič and Margherita Lanz
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Lijun Li: University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Joyce Serido: University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Rimantas Vosylis: Mykolas Romeris University
Angela Sorgente: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Žan Lep: University of Ljubljana
Yue Zhang: University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Gabriela Fonseca: University of Coimbra
Carla Crespo: University of Coimbra
Ana Paula Relvas: University of Coimbra
Maja Zupančič: University of Ljubljana
Margherita Lanz: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2023, vol. 24, issue 3, No 5, 1012 pages

Abstract: Abstract Young adulthood (18–30 years old) is a crucial period due to its developmental tasks such as career establishment and financial independence. However, young adults’ relative lack of resources makes them vulnerable to employment disruptions (job loss and income loss), which may have both immediate and long-term effects on their financial wellbeing and mental health. The economic impact of COVID-19 restrictions resulted in an increase in unemployment and a decrease in income worldwide, especially for young adults. This study examined to what extent and how job loss and income loss due to the pandemic influenced young adults’ perception of their present financial wellbeing, future financial wellbeing, and psychological wellbeing by using cross-sectional survey data collected from six countries (China, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovenia, and the United States). Results showed that the impact of income loss and job loss on all three types of wellbeing were mediated by young adults’ negative perception of the COVID-19 lockdown restriction (i.e., perceived as a misfortune). Cross-country differences existed in the key variables. The association between employment disruptions, young adults’ perception of the COVID-19 lockdown restriction, and wellbeing were equivalent across countries except China. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

Keywords: Employment disruption; Young adults; COVID-19; Perception; Wellbeing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s10902-023-00629-3

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