Unemployment, being one of the biggest social problems in Poland and in the Lublin Region, generates many negative effects, particularly dangerous not only for the individual but also for the society. Negative aspects resulting from the lack of work may be considered in many spheres, i.e. economic, political, psychological and social. The effects of unemployment also include consequences for health that are experienced by the unemployed themselves, by their families, and on a broader social scale.

The aim of the study was to evaluate of the influence of unemployment on the health condition of the unemployed in the Lublin Region. The study was carried out in 2000-2003 and included 1560 subjects that were the unemployed registered in the Municipal and Powiat Labour Offices in Lublin, Świdnik, Lubartów, Puławy and Kraśnik. The research tool was a questionnaire survey and the research method was a diagnostic sounding. The obtained results were statistically analysed with a χ2 test for independence, with the assumption of significance level p<0.05. For this purpose the Statistica package was used.

The initial analysis proved that the consequences of a chronic stress due to the lack of a job were psychosomatic problems, i.e. headaches, stomach aches, lack of appetite and bad mood, loss of joy and interest in life, fears, anxiety. The prolonged situation of unemployment resulted in the development of many diseases, particularly alimentary tract diseases, neuroses, and the circulatory system diseases. The relationship between the period of unemployment and deterioration of health was clear.