Abstract

ACOSTA-RODRIGUEZ, Fernanda; RIVERA-MARTINEZ, Mabel  and  PULIDO-RULL, Marco Antonio. Depression and anxiety in a sample of unemployed Mexican individuals. J. behav. health soc. ISSUES [online]. 2011, vol.3, n.1, pp.35-42. ISSN 2007-0780.  https://doi.org/10.5460/jbhsi.v3.1.27682.

The purpose of the present study was to compare depression and anxiety scores in unemployed Mexican individuals and college students. A sample of 250 unemployed individuals and 346 college students answered the Beck anxiety inventory and the Beck depression inventory, adapted and standardized for the Mexican population. Results showed higher anxiety and depression scores for the unemployed sample; results also showed depression scores were substantially higher than anxiety scores in the unemployed sample. Both depression and anxiety scores were higher in unemployed males than in unemployed females; evidence also suggests that depressive symptoms may be producing physical problems. Results are discussed in terms of the variables that module the effects of unemployment; they are also discussed in terms of their personal and economic costs.

Keywords : Unemployment; college students; depression; anxiety.