 |
|
|
|||||
Losing your job can hurt you in many ways. Maskot/Getty Images The Trump administrations firing and furloughing of tens of thousands of federal workers and contractors have obviously caused economic hardship for Americans employed in national parks, research labs, and dozens of government agencies. As a professor of social work who studies how peoples finances affect their physical and mental well-being, Im concerned about the health hazards theyll face, too. My research shows that losing your job can seriously harm your physical and mental health, especially when you see the situation as a catastrophe rather than a temporary setback. Power of financial perception When people lose their jobs, they do have real problems. Typically, for example, their income and savings decline. They might struggle to keep up on their rent or mortgage payments and might not be able to afford to maintain the same standard of living they had beforehand. However, research shows that your perspective regarding your financial situation can do more harm to your health than your actual financial circumstanceseven as your savings dwindle. Someone might view losing their job as a temporary setback and remain relatively calm, while another person might experience the same circumstances as a disaster, triggering intense stress that cascades into serious health problems, such as depression and substance abuse. This difference in perspective often determines whether somebody will suffer significant health problems when they lose their job or experience a similar financial setback. In a study I published in 2023 with social work scholar Theda Rose, we found that how a person felt about a decline in income mattered 20 times more than the actual financial change itself. This finding comes from our analysis of data from the 2018 National Financial Capability Study, which surveyed more than 27,000 American adults. We used advanced statistical methods to examine how different financial factors affected peoples health and financial decision-making, looking specifically at financial strain, confidence in managing money, and overall financial satisfaction. The study confirmed earlier work about the vastly different psychological and physical responses two people can have when their income falls by the same amount, based on how they perceive this change. Pathway to illness Previous research has typically viewed whats known as financial precaritynot having enough money to get byin either purely technical terms, such as being able to come up with U.S.$400 in an emergency, or in terms related to your feelings about that situation, such as persistent worrying about your finances. However, we found that both aspects of financial precarity can influence health and behavior. Among the many variables we explored, a decline in income surprisingly contributed much more in terms of worry than just not being able to pay the bills. This distress caused by economic hardship isnt just a psychological problemit can produce physical changes that may have long-term health implications, such as high blood pressure. A fired IRS employee, right, talks to a recruiter during a jobs fair for laid-off federal workers on March 15, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel Mental health suffers Theres also a toll on your mental health. Losing a job can lead to anxiety, depression, and lower self-esteem. Interestingly, people who face ongoing financial challenges but dont get stressed about their situation arent more likely to develop depression symptoms than people without any financial stress. A systematic review of 65 studies found clear connections between debt and mental health problems, depression, and even suicide attempts. Physical health troubles Losing your job can harm your body in two main ways. First, the stress from financial worries can affect peoples bodies directlyfor example, by increasing blood pressure. Being in debt is associated with other ailments, including back pain and obesity. Second, when money is tight, people often try to save money by skipping doctor visits or forgoing prescription drugs. Even with health insurance, high deductibles can mean paying thousands of dollars out of pocket before insurance helps. When choosing between paying for rent, food, and healthcare, people often put their medical needs last. Unhealthy coping methods Some people turn to lcohol, tobacco, or other substances to cope with the loss of their jobs. These habits are bad for your health and may empty your wallet, adding to the financial strain. Others turn to gambling or excessive shopping to cope, which can also make money problems even worse. Marriage and other relationships may fray amid financial stress, too. Borrowing money excessively from friends and family or snapping at your loved ones when you feel stressed out can weaken ties with those closest to you. Moving on in healthy ways To be sure, some people become more resilient after losing their job by adopting positive coping strategies. Whenever you lose a job, try reaching out. Your friends and loved ones can help protect your health while you move on. In addition to applying for new positions, spend time networking. Reach out to former colleagues, join professional groups, and attend events related to your career. Try to volunteer. It will help you sharpen or expand your skills while expanding your networks and perhaps lead you to a new job. And consider starting or expanding a side hustle. It will generate some income, give you a greater sense of control over your life, and keep you feeling productive during the monotony of sending out applications. Its also essential to stick to self-care basics: Regular exercise reduces stress hormones. Getting enough sleep improves cognitive function, and maintaining a busy social life provides emotional support. Keeping healthy habits is always important. But they could protect your mental and physical health during challenging times. Losing a paycheck is hard enough. Losing your health over it is even worse. Jeffrey Anvari-Clark is an assistant professor of social work at the University of North Dakota. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Category:
E-Commerce
If youve bought the antihistamine medication Benadryl from Amazon in the past few years, youll want to make sure to carefully check its packaging to make sure it is not part of the recall that was posted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) this month. Thats because a select Benadryl product sold on the e-commerce giants website has a fault that could lead to the risk of a child being poisoned. Heres what you need to know. Benadryl Liquid Elixir sold on Amazon.com is being recalled On March 20, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission posted a recall notice on its website for Benadryl Liquid Elixir imported by Arsell Inc. of Brooklyn, New York. The medication was manufactured in Canada. While the medication itself is safe, the Benadryl Liquid Elixirs packaging is not child-resistant as required by law. This means that the product poses a safety risk to young children. If they open the product and swallow the medicine inside, they could be poisoned. The Benadryl contains diphenhydramine, which must be in child-resistant packaging as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. The packaging of the products is not child-resistant, posing a risk of poisoning if the contents are swallowed by young children, the notice posted on the CPSC website warns. What Benadryl product is being recalled? According to the notice posted on the CPSC website, only one specific Benadryl product is being recalled. The details of that product are: Product name: Benadryl Liquid Elixir, 100 mL bottles Product packaging: paper box with a round dark plastic bottle inside. Label code: X003VRIGUL In total, about 2,300 bottles are being recalled. Images of the product packaging can be viewed here. Where was the recalled Benadryl product sold? According to the notice on the CPSC website, the recalled product was sold online at Amazon.com. It was sold between July 2023 and October 2024. The price of the product ranged from $16 to $19. Have any children been harmed by the recalled Benadryl product? Thankfully, no. As of the March 20 posting date, the recall notice says that there have been no reported injuries or incidents so far. What do I do if I have the recalled product? The CPSC notice says the recalled product should be immediately secured and kept out of sight and reach of children. People with the product should contact the importer, Arsell, for a full refund. You will be asked to provide proof of your Amazon purchase and proof that you have disposed of the bottle and its contents. Those with the recalled Benadryl can contact recall@arsellsupport.com to begin the recall process. Full details of the recall can be found on the notice here.
Category:
E-Commerce
The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday launched investigations into Stanford University and three University of California schools to ensure they comply with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down race-conscious admissions. The 2023 ruling effectively prohibited affirmative action policies that were long used to raise the number of Black, Hispanic, and other underrepresented minority students on American campuses. U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi directed the department’s civil rights division to investigate to ensure that the schools comply with a Supreme Court decision that prevents colleges and universities from discriminating when choosing students for admission, the department said in a news release. In addition to Stanford, the review will cover the University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Los Angeles, and University of California, Irvine. Since taking office for his second term, President Donald Trump’s administration has attempted to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within the government and the private sector. He has also taken aim at academic institutions and universities, launching dozens of investigations and threatening to cut off funding to schools that promote DEI. “President Trump and I are dedicated to ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity across the country,” Bondi said in the release. “Every student in America deserves to be judged solely based on their hard work, intellect, and character, not the color of their skin.” The investigations were “just the beginning” of the Justice Department’s attempt to eradicate DEI programs, the media release said. Stanford University said in a statement it began taking steps to comply with the Supreme Court decision immediately after it was issued. “We continue to be committed to fulfilling our obligations under the law. We do not have details about today’s announcement, but we look forward to learning more about their concerns and responding to the department’s questions,” Stanford spokesperson Dee Mostofi said in an email. The University of California said it has adhered to a ban on affirmative action in admissions since California voters approved one in the ballot initiative Proposition 209 in 1996. “At the same time, we remain committed to expanding access for all qualified students,” the statewide university system said in a statement. “The UC undergraduate admissions application collects students’ race and ethnicity for statistical purposes only. This information is not shared with application reviewers and is not used for admissions.” Ryan Patrick Jones and Daniel Trotta, Reuters
Category:
E-Commerce
All news |
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||