We analyze the relationship of unemployment, subjective well-being (SWB) and attribution style. Two hundred participants (100 of them unemployed; M= 36 years), equally distributed by sex, completed 4 instruments. Unemployed people have less SWB than the workers (Us≥3.607; Zs≥ -3.409; ps≤0.039) and an attribution style with an external, unstable and less controllable locus (Us≥1332; Zs≥ -8.985; ps≤0.01). Unemployed men and women have lower levels of life satisfaction (LS) than their employed counterparts (Mwoman 21.38 vs. 24.66; Mmen 22.82 vs. 26.10; Us ≥891; ZS ≥-2, 479; PS≤ 0.017), but have the same level of happiness (Us ≤1036, 500; ZS ≤-1, 480; PS ≥1, 150). This last result raises questions for future studies about happiness vs. LS in unfavorable life situations or domains. Also, both groups give different explanations to unemployment (χ² (1) = 8.970; p<0.05). Results and some explanatory conjectures are discussed.
unemployment; causal attributions; subjective well-being
