Coping with Long-Term Unemployment

Qualitative data were collected from a sample of long-term unemployed age 47-59 from the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) dislocated worker program (N=16) who reported positive well-being on the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Structured interview questions generated detailed data on coping strategies. Data were analyzed using MAXQDA10 software. Key coping strategies associated with positive well-being included productive use of time on meaningful activities, conserving financial resources, social supports, and cognitive maneuvers. Findings suggest that employing certain behavioral coping strategies together safeguards subjective well-being during long-term unemployment and enables individuals to remain active in their job search. Procedures Participant selection and data collection occurred in two phases. Phase 1 involved selecting a sample of 277 candidates who met the selection criteria. They were identified from the WIA Title I dislocated worker program (July 2009 – August 2011) and the unemployment insurance program. In Phase 1, prospective participants were invited by letter to participate. The letter included the instructions for completing the participant Informed Consent Form. The form described risks and benefits of the study, confidentiality, and anonymity. The letter also included the (GHQ-12). Upon receipt of completed participant solicitation materials and the Informed Consent Form, the GHQ-12 was scored using the cutoff score of 3/4. Those scoring a 3 or lower were categorized into the positive subjective well-being group and those scoring a 4 or higher were categorized into a group reporting negative well-being. Candidates exhibiting positive subjective well-being based on their GHQ-12 score were contacted by telephone and/or mail and invited to participate in an interview. In this way, a purposeful sample of 16 participants was selected. Analysis Excel spreadsheets and qualitative data analysis software were utilized to organize the data for interpretation and analysis. The data consisted of GHQ-12 scores, WIA participant data, background data, interview data, and field notes. The method of content analysis used a categorical-content approach as described by Lieblich, Tuval-Mashiach, and Zilber (1998). A categorical-content approach entails identifying categories and themes that become apparent through review of the data. Three readings of each interview were completed in succession. An objective coding scheme (Clark, 2012) was developed and applied to the content and data. Codes were developed on the basis of the emerging information collected from the participants (Creswell, 2009). This resulted in coding sections of the transcribed text according to the categories developed from the interview process and reading transcripts. To facilitate data synthesis, organization, accessibility, and interpretation, MAX Qualitative Data Analysis 10 (MAXQDA10) qualitative analysis software was utilized.

本研究从47-59岁的长期失业人群中抽取样本，该样本来自《劳动力投资法案》（Workforce Investment Act, WIA）失业工人项目（N=16），且所有受试者在一般健康问卷（General Health Questionnaire, GHQ-12）中均报告拥有积极幸福感。研究通过结构化访谈问题收集到关于应对策略的详实质性数据，并采用MAXQDA10软件完成数据分析。与积极幸福感相关的核心应对策略包括：将时间高效投入至有意义的活动、节约财务资源、获取社会支持以及运用认知策略。研究结果表明，联合使用特定的行为应对策略，可在长期失业期间保护个体的主观幸福感，并帮助个体持续积极参与求职活动。

研究步骤
受试者招募与数据收集分为两个阶段。第一阶段：筛选出277名符合纳入标准的候选受试者，这些受试者均来自2009年7月至2011年8月期间的WIA第一编失业工人项目与失业保险项目。第一阶段中，研究人员通过信函邀请潜在受试者参与研究，信函中附带受试者知情同意书填写指南，该知情同意书明确说明了研究的风险与收益、保密措施与匿名原则，同时附带GHQ-12问卷。在收到完整的受试者招募材料与知情同意书后，采用3/4的分界值对GHQ-12问卷进行评分：得分≤3分的受试者被归入积极主观幸福感组，得分≥4分的受试者则被归入消极幸福感组。随后，研究人员通过电话或信函邀请GHQ-12评分显示拥有积极主观幸福感的候选受试者参与访谈，最终通过目的性抽样选取16名受试者。

数据分析
本研究使用电子表格与质性数据分析软件对数据进行整理，以开展解读与分析。所涵盖的数据包括GHQ-12评分、WIA受试者数据、背景资料、访谈记录与实地笔记。本研究采用Lieblich、Tuval-Mashiach与Zilber（1998）所描述的分类内容分析法，该方法通过梳理数据识别出相应的类别与主题。每名访谈转录文本均依次完成三次通读。研究人员开发并应用了客观编码方案（Clark, 2012），该编码方案基于从受试者处收集到的新信息制定（Creswell, 2009），最终根据访谈过程与转录文本梳理得出的类别，对转录文本的相关段落进行编码。为便于数据的整合、整理、获取与解读，本研究使用了MAXQDA10质性数据分析软件。