Publication type
Journal Article
Authors
Publication date
May 21, 2025
Summary:
Introduction: Few studies have addressed the relationship between trade unions and workers’ mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: We analysed panel data from Understanding Society collected before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (49 915 observations; 5988 respondents) to assess the relationship between union presence within the workplace and union membership and a binary measure of common mental disorders (CMD), the 12-Item General Health Questionnaire (>4, probable psychological distress). A mixed-effect log-linear model assessed effect heterogeneity across time and industries, with average marginal effects (AME) indicating effect differences between groups.
Results: Of our sample, 49.1% worked in a unionised workplace, with 53.8% of them being union members. Approximately 25% of the entire workforce was trade union members. Psychological distress prevalence was higher during the pandemic (25.4%) compared with prepandemic (18.4%). Union presence ((AMEpre-pandemic: 1.0, 95% CI−0.66 to 2.70) (AME-pandemic: −0.2, 95% CI−1.91 to 1.58)) and union membership ((AMEpre-pandemic: 1.6, 95% CI −0.69 to 3.93) (AMEpandemic: −0.1, 95% CI −2.29 to 2.00)) were both associated with modest protection against CMD risk. Although, industry heterogeneity exists.
Conclusions: Trade union presence may have a protective effect on workers’ mental health in periods of crisis, such as during a pandemic. Within unionised workplaces, trade union membership further mitigated the negative effects of the pandemic on mental health. Collective negotiation may be protective in periods of uncertainty, benefiting all workers.
Published in
BMJ Public Health
Volume
Volume: 3:e001756
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjph-2024-001756
ISSN
27534294
Subjects
Notes
Open Access
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ Group.
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