Uni of Adelaide - Tassis Oswald - "Mental Health of young Australians during the Pandemic"

1. THE ROLE OF PRECARIOUS EMPLOYMENT
Mental Health of Young Australians
During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2. Background Information
What do we know?

3. Mental Health Impacts of the Pandemic
The University of Adelaide Slide 3

4. Young Australians (18 – 24 years)
• In Australia young adults have been disproportionately affected:
o Younger age associated with increased risk of high levels of depression and anxiety, and decreased wellbeing, in pandemic context (Dawel et al., 2020)
o Australians aged 18 – 29 years were especially vulnerable to mental health problems during the pandemic (Fisher et al., 2020)
• Important transitional phase with unique challenges:
o Final year of high school
o Starting tertiary education
o Completing tertiary education
o More likely to be in precarious employment (casual / insecure)
o Different pathways & timelines
o Diverse and fluctuating social supports & economic circumstances
The University of Adelaide Slide 4

5. Our Study
What did we do?

6. We aimed to explore potential risk and protective factors for young Australians’
mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, using the
Complete State Model of Mental Health
• Online survey (November 2020 – January 2021)
• Qualtrics panels – quota sampling of young Australians in metropolitan areas
• Questions about:
• Mental illness and mental wellbeing
• Employment and income
The University of Adelaide Slide 6

7. The University of Adelaide Slide 7
Participants
years 1,004
55%
19%
15%
20%
22%
23%
1 2 3 4 5

8. The Results
What did we find?

9. The University of Adelaide Slide 9
Employment & Income Statistics
Employment
Permanent 29%
Fixed-Term 9%
Regular Casual Hours 20%
Irregular Casual Hours 10%
JobKeeper 5%
Not Employed (but studying) 18%
Not Employed (not studying) 9%
Income & Hours
Income
Stayed the same 35%
Increased 23%
Decreased 43%
Hours
Stayed the same 32%
Increased 18%
Decreased 50%
22%
31%
48%
No-Low
Moderate
High-Overwhelming
Financial Stress
57%
19%
24%
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
“Working from
home was
stressful….”

10. Mental
Illness
Mental Wellbeing
High
High
Low
Low
Struggling Flourishing
Languishing
Floundering
Complete State
Model of Mental
Health (10)
14%
25.5%
13%
47.5%

11. The University of Adelaide Slide 11
Flourishing
Floundering
Struggling
Languishing
• More likely to be in permanent employment
• Less likely to report change in work hours or income
• Less likely to experience financial stress
• Working irregular casual hours (4x)
• On JobKeeper (8x)
• Working from home was stressful (4.5x)
• Income decreased (2.5x)
• High-to-overwhelming financial stress (15x)
• Fixed-term employment (3x)
• Less likely to report change in work hours or
income
• Moderate financial stress (2x)
• Fixed-term employment (3.5x)
• On JobKeeper (4x)
• Income decreased (2.5x) or increased (2x)
• Working from home was stressful (3x)
• Work hours changed (3x)
• High-to-overwhelming financial stress (7x)

12. The University of Adelaide Slide 12

13. The University of Adelaide Slide 13

14. The Implications
What does this mean?

15. The University of Adelaide Slide 15
Take-away points….
• The pandemic has amplified many of the challenges young people face, especially around
independence and security
• Young Australians should be a target group for provision of mental health services in the
pandemic context
• But, preventive strategies are needed to address risk factors
• Job security is important for supporting young people’s mental health, beyond just being
employed
• Guaranteeing income (JobKeeper) may not counteract distress around precarious employment
Meaning
in life
Feeling
valued

16. Thank you! Questions?