Loss of Material, Personal, and Social Resources and Their Impact on Mental Health Among Young People Not in Employment, Education, or Training.

Introduction: Young people face heightened employment pressure, particularly those in the school-to-work transition phase. Although earlier studies have indicated that young people who are not in employment, education, or training (NEET) experience considerable psychological distress, limited attention has been paid to understanding why they are at risk of poor mental health. Grounded in the conservation of resources theory, this study examined the mental health differences between NEETs and those who are in employment, education, or training (non-NEET). We also investigated how loss of resources could explain the differences.

Methods: Based on the Chinese Family Panel Studies dataset in 2020, the study's sample included 5336 individuals aged from 16 to 35 in China (46% females; M_age = 28.13, SD_age = 4.99). Approximately 14.25% of the participants were considered NEETs.

Results: The results revealed that NEETs showed significantly higher levels of depression symptoms and lower levels of subjective well-being than non-NEETs. Path analysis revealed that, compared to non-NEETs, NEETs reported significantly lower levels of key resources, including perceived economic status, sense of optimism, and perceived social acceptance. These diminished resources mediated the relationship between NEET status and adverse mental health outcomes, specifically elevated depression symptoms and reduced subjective well-being.

Conclusions: This study highlights that NEETs experience poorer mental health than non-NEETs, not only due to material deprivation, but as a result of personal and social resource loss. Therefore, beyond providing financial assistance, it is essential to develop evidence-based social services that focus on restoring NEETs' sense of optimism and rebuilding social acceptance.