Is unemployment benefit stigma related to poverty, payment receipt, or lack of employment? A vignette experiment about Australian views
Journal article
Suomi, Aino, Schofield, Timothy, Haslam, Nick and Butterworth, Peter. (2022). Is unemployment benefit stigma related to poverty, payment receipt, or lack of employment? A vignette experiment about Australian views. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy. 22(2), pp. 694-711. https://doi.org/10.1111/asap.12313
Authors | Suomi, Aino, Schofield, Timothy, Haslam, Nick and Butterworth, Peter |
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Abstract | The present study sought to better understand the extent to which negative perceptions of people who receive unemployment benefits is due to their poverty status, their unemployment, and/or their receipt of income support payments. We sought to differentiate these three factors in a vignette-based experiment drawing on a large Australian general population sample (N = 778). Participants rated the personality and capability of two fictional characters. The key experimental manipulation of employment status and benefit receipt was embedded in description of other characteristics. Participants rated vignette characters who received unemployment benefits less favorably on personality (conscientiousness, emotional stability, agreeableness), competence, and warmth than characters described as having a job, as being poor, or as not having a job but without mention of receiving benefits. There was a gradient in the strength of negative assessments across these conditions, but only warmth, conscientiousness and employability distinguished between individuals receiving unemployment benefits and individuals without a job but no reference to benefit receipt. This study provides new insights showing that receiving benefits due to unemployment contributes to negative perceptions over and above the effects of poverty or being unemployed. |
Year | 2022 |
Journal | Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy |
Journal citation | 22 (2), pp. 694-711 |
Publisher | Wiley Periodicals |
ISSN | 1529-7489 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1111/asap.12313 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85129364722 |
Open access | Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access |
Page range | 694-711 |
Funder | Australian Research Council (ARC) |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 06 May 2022 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 31 Mar 2022 |
Deposited | 28 Apr 2023 |
ARC Funded Research | This output has been funded, wholly or partially, under the Australian Research Council Act 2001 |
Grant ID | DP16014178 |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8yz81/is-unemployment-benefit-stigma-related-to-poverty-payment-receipt-or-lack-of-employment-a-vignette-experiment-about-australian-views
Download files
Publisher's version
OA_Suomi_2022_Is_unemployment_benefit_stigma_related_to.pdf | |
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 | |
File access level: Open |
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