Social support and psychological well-being among unemployed British Asian men

Different forms of social support as affecting psychological health were studied on a sample of 71 unemployed British Asian men in the north of England. Social support was measured in respect of five different forms of help from others. Measures were also obtained of psychological distress, financial strain, employment commitment and unemployment stigma. Family support and, specifically, support immediately after loss of employment were found to have positive effects on unemployed men’s psychological health. The findings are discussed along the lines of existing empirical evidence and the need to examine longitudinally the impact of social support on the psychological well-being of other ethnic minority groups is emphasized.