Prevalence of mental disorders and work ability among unemployed individuals in Germany: a register-based analysis of socio-medical assessments by the Federal Employment Agency between 2016 and 2021
Abstract Background The interactions between unemployment and mental health are complex. However, broad and current epidemiological data about the mental health status of unemployed individuals in Germany are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence rates of mental disorders and work abil...
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2025-02-01
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| author | Patrik Roser Kirsi Manz Norbert Scherbaum Gabriele Lotz-Metz Andreas G. Franke |
| author_facet | Patrik Roser Kirsi Manz Norbert Scherbaum Gabriele Lotz-Metz Andreas G. Franke |
| author_sort | Patrik Roser |
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| description | Abstract Background The interactions between unemployment and mental health are complex. However, broad and current epidemiological data about the mental health status of unemployed individuals in Germany are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence rates of mental disorders and work ability among all unemployed people who underwent socio-medical assessment by the Federal Employment Agency (FEA). Methods Socio-medical assessments between 2016 and 2021 were taken from the FEA database and analyzed regarding sociodemographic characteristics, mental disorders and work ability. Standard descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results A total of 4,249,028 unemployed individuals were assessed. Of these, 2,213,048 persons (52.1%) had at least one psychiatric diagnosis (mean age 40.6 ± 13.5 years, 51.7% female). Mood disorders (53.9%), neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders (43.9%), as well as substance use disorders (15.3%) showed the highest prevalence rates among mental disorders and accounted for about 80% of all psychiatric diagnoses. About 40% of them were evaluated to be able to work full time. Conclusions Psychiatric morbidity among unemployed people is high. However, a significant proportion of them was assessed to be able to return to the labor market. Therefore, close collaborations between unemployment agencies and mental health care institutions as well as specific re-integration programs including supported job placement and vocational training, long-term job coaching as well as integrated mental health care are required in order to improve mental health status, prevent further chronification, avoid labor market exit, and increase employment rate. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
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| spelling | doaj-art-b5665dc70e40477eb4d94da83781214e2025-02-09T12:57:39ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-02-0125111010.1186/s12889-025-21603-zPrevalence of mental disorders and work ability among unemployed individuals in Germany: a register-based analysis of socio-medical assessments by the Federal Employment Agency between 2016 and 2021Patrik Roser0Kirsi Manz1Norbert Scherbaum2Gabriele Lotz-Metz3Andreas G. Franke4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, LVR-University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-EssenDepartment of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical SchoolDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, LVR-University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-EssenFederal Employment Agency, Medical ServicesFederal Employment Agency, Medical ServicesAbstract Background The interactions between unemployment and mental health are complex. However, broad and current epidemiological data about the mental health status of unemployed individuals in Germany are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence rates of mental disorders and work ability among all unemployed people who underwent socio-medical assessment by the Federal Employment Agency (FEA). Methods Socio-medical assessments between 2016 and 2021 were taken from the FEA database and analyzed regarding sociodemographic characteristics, mental disorders and work ability. Standard descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results A total of 4,249,028 unemployed individuals were assessed. Of these, 2,213,048 persons (52.1%) had at least one psychiatric diagnosis (mean age 40.6 ± 13.5 years, 51.7% female). Mood disorders (53.9%), neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders (43.9%), as well as substance use disorders (15.3%) showed the highest prevalence rates among mental disorders and accounted for about 80% of all psychiatric diagnoses. About 40% of them were evaluated to be able to work full time. Conclusions Psychiatric morbidity among unemployed people is high. However, a significant proportion of them was assessed to be able to return to the labor market. Therefore, close collaborations between unemployment agencies and mental health care institutions as well as specific re-integration programs including supported job placement and vocational training, long-term job coaching as well as integrated mental health care are required in order to improve mental health status, prevent further chronification, avoid labor market exit, and increase employment rate.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21603-zUnemploymentWork abilityMental disordersEpidemiologyPublic health |
| spellingShingle | Patrik Roser Kirsi Manz Norbert Scherbaum Gabriele Lotz-Metz Andreas G. Franke Prevalence of mental disorders and work ability among unemployed individuals in Germany: a register-based analysis of socio-medical assessments by the Federal Employment Agency between 2016 and 2021 BMC Public Health Unemployment Work ability Mental disorders Epidemiology Public health |
| title | Prevalence of mental disorders and work ability among unemployed individuals in Germany: a register-based analysis of socio-medical assessments by the Federal Employment Agency between 2016 and 2021 |
| title_full | Prevalence of mental disorders and work ability among unemployed individuals in Germany: a register-based analysis of socio-medical assessments by the Federal Employment Agency between 2016 and 2021 |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of mental disorders and work ability among unemployed individuals in Germany: a register-based analysis of socio-medical assessments by the Federal Employment Agency between 2016 and 2021 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of mental disorders and work ability among unemployed individuals in Germany: a register-based analysis of socio-medical assessments by the Federal Employment Agency between 2016 and 2021 |
| title_short | Prevalence of mental disorders and work ability among unemployed individuals in Germany: a register-based analysis of socio-medical assessments by the Federal Employment Agency between 2016 and 2021 |
| title_sort | prevalence of mental disorders and work ability among unemployed individuals in germany a register based analysis of socio medical assessments by the federal employment agency between 2016 and 2021 |
| topic | Unemployment Work ability Mental disorders Epidemiology Public health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21603-z |
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