How job insecurity affects mental health in working-age adults
Official title: Employment Precarity and Adverse Behavioral Health Outcomes in the NLSY79 and 97 Cohorts
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-10932090 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how feeling unsure about your job can affect your mental health, like causing anxiety or depression, and it’s for working adults who want to understand how their job situations might impact their well-being.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | September 29, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $107,999 |
| NIH project number | 5K01OH012319-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10932090 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are working-age adults who have experienced varying levels of job stability and insecurity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not currently in the workforce or have stable, secure employment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of job insecurity on mental health outcomes among working-age adults by analyzing data from two National Longitudinal Survey of Youth cohorts. It aims to understand how precarious employment conditions contribute to adverse behavioral health issues, such as anxiety and depression. By examining individuals' employment histories and the variability in their job situations over time, the study seeks to identify patterns and correlations that could inform future interventions. The research will utilize robust longitudinal data to provide a comprehensive view of the relationship between employment precarity and mental health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and interventions for improving mental health among individuals facing job insecurity.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies on employment precarity, this research aims to fill significant gaps by providing a comprehensive longitudinal analysis, making it a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bonney, Tessa — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Bonney, Tessa
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.