programmes have been replicated in Finland, China, and Ireland with similar positive outcomes (; ; ). In Australia, a number of studies (; 2011) have adapted the theories of Jahoda and Warr to create a scale that measures the perceived latent and manifest functions of the work and training environment. These studies all identify the kind of psychosocial mechanisms that may produce positive health change. They include: enhancement of skills and competences; imposition of structure to the working day; social contact and status; and enhanced self-efficacy. It is proposed that access to social support from peers and trainers acts to reduce feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Such components of ALMPs and training programmes may explain reported mental health improvements over participation periods (). In various European contexts, a number of studies have examined the health effects of ALMPs and associated labour market interventions. Findings show that participation in ALMPs can lead to a range of positive outcomes such as: reductions in psychological distress and depression (; ; ; ); increased subjective wellbeing (; Coutts 2005); higher levels of control/mastery (); improvements in motivation and self-esteem through feeling needed (; ; ); and improved social support () . In the UK, a recent qualitative study of unemployment training programmes in Bradford suggested that the health and wellbeing of unemployed participants could be protected through the provision of the kinds of psychosocial and material needs disrupted by unemployment (). Andersen () investigated the effect of participation in government training on subjective wellbeing. She applied Jahoda’s and Fryer’s theories to interpret data from the first 13 waves of the British Household Panel Survey and found that both current and previous participation in government training had a positive effect on subjective wellbeing, although the effect of previous participation decreased over time.
programmes have been replicated in Finland, China, and Ireland with similar positive outcomes (; ; ). In Australia, a number of studies (; 2011) have adapted the theories of Jahoda and Warr to create a scale that measures the perceived latent and manifest functions of the work and training environment. These studies all identify the kind of psychosocial mechanisms that may produce positive health change. They include: enhancement of skills and competences; imposition of structure to the working day; social contact and status; and enhanced self-efficacy. It is proposed that access to social support from peers and trainers acts to reduce feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Such components of ALMPs and training programmes may explain reported mental health improvements over participation periods (). In various European contexts, a number of studies have examined the health effects of ALMPs and associated labour market interventions. Findings show that participation in ALMPs can lead to a range of positive outcomes such as: reductions in psychological distress and depression (; ; ; ); increased subjective wellbeing (; Coutts 2005); higher levels of control/mastery (); improvements in motivation and self-esteem through feeling needed (; ; ); and improved social support () . In the UK, a recent qualitative study of unemployment training programmes in Bradford suggested that the health and wellbeing of unemployed participants could be protected through the provision of the kinds of psychosocial and material needs disrupted by unemployment (). Andersen () investigated the effect of participation in government training on subjective wellbeing. She applied Jahoda’s and Fryer’s theories to interpret data from the first 13 waves of the British Household Panel Survey and found that both current and previous participation in government training had a positive effect on subjective wellbeing, although the effect of previous participation decreased over time.
almps_and_health_coutts_et_al.docx