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.

本研究的质性数据采集自16名年龄介于47至59岁的长期失业者样本，这些受访者均来自劳动力投资法案（Workforce Investment Act, WIA）失业工人项目，且在一般健康问卷（General Health Questionnaire, GHQ-12）中报告主观幸福感处于正向水平。结构化访谈问卷采集了关于应对策略的详实质性数据，研究采用MAXQDA10软件开展数据分析。

与正向主观幸福感相关的核心应对策略包括：将时间有效投入至有意义的活动、节约财务资源、获取社会支持，以及运用认知调节手段。研究结果表明，联合使用特定的行为应对策略，可在长期失业期间维持个体的主观幸福感，并助力其持续积极地开展求职活动。

研究流程
被试招募与数据采集分为两个阶段开展。第一阶段共筛选出277名符合纳入标准的候选被试，这些被试均来自2009年7月至2011年8月期间的劳动力投资法案第一章节失业工人项目以及失业保险项目。第一阶段中，研究人员通过信函邀请潜在被试参与研究，信函中包含了填写《被试知情同意书》的指南，该知情同意书详细说明了本研究的风险与收益、保密原则与匿名机制，同时随信附带了一般健康问卷（GHQ-12）。

在收到完整的被试招募材料与知情同意书后，研究人员采用3/4的分界值对GHQ-12问卷得分进行计分：得分≤3的被试被归入正向主观幸福感组，得分≥4的被试则被归入负向主观幸福感组。研究人员通过电话或信函联系得分显示主观幸福感正向的候选被试，并邀请其参与访谈，最终通过目的性抽样选取了16名被试作为最终样本。

数据分析
本研究采用Excel表格与质性数据分析软件对数据进行整理，以支持后续的解读与分析。本次研究的数据涵盖GHQ-12得分、WIA项目被试数据、背景信息数据、访谈转录数据以及实地笔记。

研究采用由Lieblich、Tuval-Mashiach与Zilber（1998）提出的分类内容分析法，该方法的核心是通过对数据的反复审阅，提炼出清晰的分类与主题。研究人员依次对每一份访谈转录文本进行三轮通读。随后，研究者基于Clark（2012）的框架开发了一套客观编码体系，并将其应用于研究内容与数据；编码体系的构建则基于从被试处收集到的逐步浮现的信息（Creswell, 2009）。最终，研究人员根据访谈过程中提炼出的分类标准，对转录文本的各个段落进行编码。为便于数据的整合、整理、检索与解读，研究采用了MAX质性数据分析10（MAXQDA10）软件。