---
"title": "Personal Cost of Being Unemployed"
"description": "Roughly four-in-ten Americans who spent some time unemployed during the recession say they experienced a strain in family relations while out of work."
"date": "2010-08-10"
"authors":
  -
    "name": "Russell Heimlich"
    "job_title": "Former web developer"
    "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
"url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/short-reads/2010/08/10/personal-cost-of-being-unemployed/"
"categories":
  - "Recessions & Recoveries"
  - "Unemployment"
  - "Unemployment"
---

# Personal Cost of Being Unemployed

Along with the financial difficulties joblessness can create, many Americans who lost their jobs during the recession also experienced more personal problems. Roughly four-in-ten adults (42%) who are currently unemployed or who were unemployed sometime during the recession say that family relations were strained during their time out of work. Another 40% say while they were unemployed they lost contact with close friends. These financial and relationship strains took a tangible toll on half of the unemployed;48% say they had difficulty sleeping while without a job. About one-in-five sought professional help for depression, and 5% admit to having problems with alcohol or drugs during unemployment. [Read More](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/pubs/1674/poll-impact-long-term-unemployment)