Dimensions of Coping in Individuals Facing Long-Term Unemployment
Keywords:
long-term unemployment, coping strategies, qualitative research, mental healthAbstract
This study aimed to explore the emotional, cognitive, social, and behavioral coping strategies employed by individuals experiencing long-term unemployment in Tehran, Iran. A qualitative research design was used to capture the lived experiences of coping among 21 participants who had been unemployed for at least one year. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling and resided in various districts of Tehran. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The coding process was supported by NVivo software and continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Transcripts were coded inductively, and themes were refined through iterative comparisons and peer debriefing to ensure analytic rigor. Four overarching themes emerged: emotional coping, cognitive coping, social coping, and behavioral coping. Emotional coping included strategies such as suppression, expression, and spiritual comfort. Cognitive coping involved reframing the situation, future planning, and rationalization. Social coping highlighted both reliance on support networks and avoidance due to stigma. Behavioral coping ranged from job-seeking persistence and routine maintenance to avoidant behaviors like excessive sleeping or isolation. Participants employed multiple strategies, often shifting between adaptive and maladaptive responses over time. Coping strategies were shaped by individual resources, gender norms, and perceived macroeconomic instability. Many participants linked their unemployment to systemic economic challenges and used coping strategies to mitigate feelings of hopelessness, shame, and social withdrawal. Coping with long-term unemployment is a complex, evolving process influenced by personal, social, and structural factors. Interventions should be multidimensional, targeting not only employment support but also emotional and social resilience. Understanding these coping dimensions provides valuable insight for designing inclusive policies and psychosocial support programs for the long-term unemployed.
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