• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.228-243
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• 2015

This study analyzed the process of change related to how long term laid off workers experienced layoff and the subsequent period of unemployment using a phenomenological method. The subjects of this study were five laid off workers whose average period of unemployment was 8 years and 4 months, and they were surveyed through in depth interviews. By in depth interviews based on a semi structured questionnaire, data were collected about the subjects' psychological experiences at the time of layoff, continuous psychological or physical changes after the layoff, current state, coping methods during the period of unemployment, etc. From the results of the survey were derived 21 sub themes and 5 main themes that comprehended the sub themes. The five main themes were 'emotion and perception on and after layoff,' 'symptoms and changes resulting from the lengthening of layoff,' 'lengthened current state,' 'pattern of social perception,' and 'coping with layoff.' The main themes and the sub themes were described and long term laid off worker' associated experiences were explained in detail. Lastly, long term laid off workers' changes and experiences were discussed based on previous studies.