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Factors Influencing the Ability to Achieve Valued Outcomes among Older Long-Term Unemployed People
[journal article]
Abstract This qualitative study aims to explore the valuable functionings - things that people consider to be important- of the older long-term unemployed and their ability to achieve valued outcomes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 long-term unemployed people aged 45 and over. Participants... view more
This qualitative study aims to explore the valuable functionings - things that people consider to be important- of the older long-term unemployed and their ability to achieve valued outcomes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 long-term unemployed people aged 45 and over. Participants were included through purposeful sampling. The theoretical frameworks of the latent deprivation theory and the capability approach were used to develop an interpretive analysis. Nine valuable functionings were identified: social contact, feeling appreciated, structure, feeling useful, meaningfulness, autonomy, financial resources, paid work, and being active. These valuable functionings were partly accessible through the activities that people performed, varying from physically active and physically passive activities to informal work. The functionings of meaningfulness, autonomy, financial resources, and paid work seemed to be difficult to achieve. We identified three groups. The first consisted of people whose work status changed when they entered the benefit system; for them paid work was still a valuable functioning, and they experienced the most difficulties in achieving valued outcomes. The second group also experienced a change in work status once they started to receive benefits, but those people adapted to their new situation by attributing greater value to other functionings. The third group had no change in work status, e.g., housewives who had applied for a benefit because they were not able to make ends meet after a divorce. This group did not experience a loss of functionings due to unemployment, nor did they try to achieve other functionings. The results of this study indicate a need for a more personalized, tailor-made approach, with an emphasis on an individual’s valued outcomes instead of on rules and obligations.... view less
Keywords
persistent unemployment; social deprivation; receipt of benefits; mental health; well-being; reintegration; motivation; inclusion; social security; Netherlands
Classification
Social Policy
Social Psychology
Free Keywords
benefits; capability approach; latent deprivation theory; older people; valuable functionings; welfare
Document language
English
Publication Year
2020
Page/Pages
p. 203-213
Journal
Social Inclusion, 8 (2020) 1
Issue topic
Institutions of Inclusion and Exclusion
ISSN
2183-2803
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed