What did I study for? : the relationship between stress, health and self-efficacy among unemployed University of Malta graduates

Abstract

For most individuals, essential life requirements are encountered through employment. Work does not only supply the means for meeting physical needs but it also enables a person to promote their self-esteem and provide an opportunity for achievement and self-realization. On the other hand, unemployment might be expected to increase anxiety and depression, lead to lower self-esteem, and produce adverse physical consequences, particularly when efforts to locate work are met with failure over a long period of time. My area of interest is that of examining the relationship between stress levels, health and self-efficacy amongst unemployed graduates and how this varies by age, gender, duration of unemployment and relationship status. A sample of 99 individuals who graduated from the University of Malta in the last three years and who are unemployed completed an anonymous online questionnaire on their stress, health and self-efficacy. Research findings indicated that most of the variables were not significant predictors of perceived stress, health and self-efficacy during the period of unemployment. However, the respondents did seem to be particularly stressed and suffered from particular health issues. Also, a significant relationship was obtained between stress and self-efficacy of the unemployed graduates.