Psychological concomitants of satisfactory employment and unemployment in young people

School leavers were surveyed before leaving school and again four years later. Longitudinal data showed increased self-esteem, decreased externality and decreased depressive affect in those classified as Satisfied Employed, while the Dissatisfied Employed and Unemployed showed smaller increases in self-esteem, smaller decreases in externality, and no decreases in depressive affect. Cross-sectional data using the General Health Questionnaire confirmed that the Satisfied Employed were better adjusted psychologically than the other two groups, which did not differ. This suggests that satisfactory employment results in improved psychological well-being rather than unsatisfactory employment, or unemployment, leading to a deterioration.