Table 1 Summary of study characteristics and main findings of included studies targeted at participants who are unemployed
Author | Country | Target group | Sample size (n) | Intervention | Duration (Wks.) | Programme theory | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brenninkmeijer et al., 2011 [47] | The Netherlands | Low income/ Unemployed | 118 | Employment voucher/JOBS intervention | 52 | Not stated | 26% participants reemployed |
Britt et al., 2016 [48] | Canada | Unemployed/ underemployed (< 20 hrs/week) | 1434 | Motivational interview & job search activities | Not stated | Transtheoretical model of change | 63.0% participants reemployed |
Chung et al., 2019 [49] | Hong Kong | Construction trainees | 36 | Nutrition education | 3 | Transtheoretical model (TTM), stages of change | ↑daily fruit consumption (P < 0.05) ↑daily vegetable consumption (P < 0.05), ↑healthy eating knowledge (P < 0.05). No change in healthy eating behaviour |
Creed et al., 2001 [50] | Australia | Unemployed | 161 | Occupational skills training | 4-6 | Deprivation Model/ Personal Agency theory | ↑Improvement in job-search self-efficacy (P < 0.001) & self-esteem |
Dambrun et al., 2014 [27] | France | Unemployed | 21 | Positive psychology | 2 | Positive psychology | ↓depression (p < 0.002) & anxiety (P = 0.05), ↑self-esteem (p < 0.05) No change in anxiety, self-efficacy, subjective fluctuating happiness |
Eden et al., 1993 [51] | Israel | Unemployed | 66 | Self-efficacy training/behavioural modelling | 2.5 | Motivation theory/Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy | 62.5% participants remployed ↑ self-efficacy & job search activity. |
Gabrys et al., 2013 [20] | Germany | Unemployed | 51 | Physical activity counselling | 12 | 5As approach (assess, advice, agree, assist, arrange) | ↑ 9 minutes/day moderate-to- vigorous PA & 81 cpm total PA |
González-Marín et al., 2019 [52] | Spain | Unemployed | 696 | Job search and professional training | 52 | Not stated | 47.3% of women & 40.7% of the men reemployed. No change in prevalence of poor perceived health. ↑improved mental health. |
Harrell et al., 1996 [53] | USA | Trainees | 1504 | Wellness and fitness programme | 9 | Not stated | ↓ 5.6% in body fat |
Hodzic et al., 2015 [54] | Spain | Unemployed | 73 | Emotional competence training | 0.4 | Mayer and Salovey’s 4-branch model of emotional intelligence | 21.2% participants reemployed ↑ perceived employability (P < 0.05) & entrepreneurial self-efficacy (P < 0.05). No changes in job search or entrepreneurial intention. |
Hulshof et al., 2020 [55] | The Netherlands | Unemployed | 421 | Job search training | 6 | Job-demand-resources theory, experiential learning theory | ↑psychological capital & re-employment crafting. Positive effect on job search behaviour, goal setting & wellbeing. No effect on reemployment |
Iseselo et al., 2019 [56] | Tanzania | Unemployed | 36 | Health only/ entrepreneurship & health/ beekeeping & health or all three combined | 65 | Not stated | Participants acquired ability to establish sustainable business, increase in entrepreneurial skills, improved healthy lifestyle |
Joseph et al., 2001 [57] | USA | Unemployed | 52 | Self-generated imagery | 2 | Markus’s theory of possible selves | 61.5% participants reemployed ↑self-esteem (P < 0.05) & perceived control (P < 0.05). ↓depression (P < 0.05), |
Kreuzfeld et al., 2013 [23] | Germany | Unemployed | 119 | Health competence & physical activity training | 12 | Not stated | ↓percent body fat (P < 0.017). ↓depression (P < 0.028) No change in weight & BMI ↑physical activity |
Limm et al., 2015 [58] | Germany | Unemployed | 287 | Motivational interviewing | 12 | Not stated | Improved perceived mental and physical health scores. ↓anxiety score (−1.03, P = 0.012), No change in depression score |
Malmberg-Heimonen et al., 2005 [59] | Finland | Unemployed | 672 | Job-search training | 12 | Not stated | No change in re-employment ↓ depression in voluntary group. ↑Increased self-efficacy in voluntary group (P = 0.053) |
Malmberg-Heimonen et al., 2019 [60] | Finland | Unemployed | 1015 | Job search training | Not stated | Not stated | No change in reemployment |
Noordzij et al., 2013 [22] | The Netherlands | Unemployed | 223 | Learning-goal orientation training | 2 | Goal orientation theory/self-regulation | 28% participants reemployed. ↑ job-search (P < 0.05) Positive effect on affected cognitive self-regulatory variables. No effect on self-efficacy |
Proudfoot et al., 1997 [61] | UK | Unemployed | 209 | Cognitive-behavioural training | 7 | Not stated | 34% participants reemployed (P = 0.0006) ↑ GHQ score (P < 0.001), self-esteem (P = 0.01), job-seeking/self-efficacy (P = 0.001), motivation for work (P = 0.05), life satisfaction (P = 0.05) & attributional style (P = 0.001) |
Reynolds et al., 2010 [62] | Ireland | Unemployed | 352 | Job search & resilience training | 0.2 | Not stated | 47.7% of participants reemployed(P < 0.001) |
Robert et al., 2019 [63] | France | Unemployed | 704 | Preventive medicine consultation | Not stated | Not stated | No change in reemployment status, no effect on social security or perceived health |
Shirom et al., 2008 [64] | Israel | Unemployed | 442 | Job-search & skill enhancement | 1 | Not stated | No effect on reemployment and self-efficacy |
Stjernswärd et al., 2013 [65] | Sweden | Unemployed | 7 | Rehabilitation & labour market training | 10 | Acceptance commitment therapy | ↑ self-esteem & occupational aspiration. 6/7 participants reemployed or in training |
van Ryn et al., 1992 [66] | USA | Unemployed | 308 | Job-search skills or self-instructional material | 2 | Theory of planned behaviour; Theory of reasoned action | ↑ job-search self-efficacy (P < 0.001) |
Vastamäki et al., 2009 [67] | Finland | Unemployed | 74 | Labour market activities, personal guidance & unemployment support | 24 | Sense of coherence theory | 14.9% participants reemployed ↑ mean SOC (p < 0.01), |
Vinokur et al., 1995 [68] | USA | Unemployed | 1801 | Job search | 1 | Not stated | ↑reemployment, self-esteem (p < 0.001), job-search self-efficacy (p < 0.001) & confidence in preparedness to handle setbacks (p < 0.001). |
Vuori et al., 1999 [69] | Finland | Unemployed | 745 | Labour market | 1-24 | Not stated | 23.1% participants reemployed No change in psychological distress |
Vuori et al., 2005 [70] | Finland | Unemployed | 1227 | Job search | 1 | Social learning techniques | 70.4% participants reemployed in a subsidized job, or in vocational training (p < 0.05). ↑self-esteem &↓depressive symptoms. |