The Effects of Underemployment and Being Underpaid on Psychosocial Functioning Among Working Men (Employment, Mental Health, Labor Force, Status Inconsistency, Overeducation).

Prior research has neglected to study the effects of being underemployed or underpaid on psychological well-being. The present research builds upon theory and research in the areas of equity, status inconsistency, overeducation and social comparison to investigate the effects of being underemployed and underpaid on psychosocial functioning for national samples of currently employed black (N = 500) and white males (N = 606). The data indicate that more of the effects of underemployment are in the expected negative direction for black men than white men. Specifically, underemployed black men are less happy, less likely to feel that they can run their own life, less satisfied with their jobs and feel more interpersonal strain. However, only the relationship between underemployment and feeling capable of running one's own life is significant. But black men are also better off on feeling that they can carry out their plans as expected, self-esteem and psychological strain. The relationship is only significant for underemployment and self-esteem. For white men some of the effects are opposite to what is expected. However, the results are generally neither significant nor consistent. Similar to underemployment, the data indicate that being underpaid has no clear and consistent effects on the psychosocial functioning of black and white men. Unlike underemployment more of the effects of being underpaid are in the expected direction for white men than black men. Although the relationships are not significant, underpaid white men are less happy, more likely to have to change plans, less satisfied with their jobs and feel more psychological strain. Thus, being underpaid and underemployed may have different effects for black and white men. A potential limitation is that these surveys were conducted during times of high to reasonable employment. Future studies should consider: (a) other forms of underemployment, particularly part-time and low-wage income; (b) sex differences in the effects of underemployment; (c) the relationship between underemployment and unemployment; and (d) the role of social support in moderating the psychosocial consequences of underemployment. Other outcomes (such as political action) also need to be examined.PhDSocial researchUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/161108/1/8621302.pd