Belief in a Just World, Job Loss, and Depression

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Abstract
This paper assesses the relationships among three variables: the degree to which individuals believe the world to be just; job loss; and depressive symptomatology. Using self-consistency and identity theory, we postulate that for those individuals who have recently lost a job, those who strongly believe that the world is just are more likely to experience depressive symptoms than those who have little belief that the world is just, and that such an event does not result in the weakening of the belief. Using questionnaire data from a random sample of 283 adult citizens of Northern Ireland, these observations are confirmed. The findings from this initial research effort are discussed in terms of self maintenance theories together with implications for the study of mental health.

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