Differential Mental Health Outcomes Among Employed and Unemployed Women: A Comparative Study in Urban Ahmedabad

Abstract

The present study examined the differences in mental health between employed and unemployed women and explored the influence of socio-demographic and socioeconomic variables on their well-being. A random sample of 150 adult women (75 employed and 75 unemployed), aged 20–50 years, was selected from urban regions of Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The Mental Health Inventory (Jagdish & Srivastava, 1983) and the Socioeconomic Status Scale (Aggarwal, Bansal, & Kumar, 2005) were used to measure mental health and socioeconomic background, respectively. Results indicated that employed women reported significantly higher overall mental health, life satisfaction, and emotional stability compared to unemployed women. Socioeconomic status and education were positively correlated with mental health, while family size and number of children were negatively correlated. Employment status and SES emerged as the strongest predictors of mental health outcomes. The findings underscore the significance of economic and social empowerment in enhancing women’s psychological well-being.