Unemployment and Families

Economic phenomena such as unemployment affect individuals within families, relationships within families, and family systems as a whole. Unemployment often manifests in economic pressure, which creates both financial strain and psychological stress. However, the specific effects of unemployment are moderated by individual family characteristics such as race, social class, and gender ideology as well as the wider social context. Families who have access to substantial social and economic resources may experience little or no stress as a result of unemployment. Additionally, families with more flexible divisions of gendered household labor can more easily adapt to unemployment. Studies employing family stress and coping models have illuminated important techniques for coping with the stress of unemployment including pragmatic reframing, mutual support, and open communication.