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The over-riding aim of this psychotherapeutic study was to explore themes of existential
Anxiety present in middle-aged men who have experienced unemployment. Literature relating
to the study was firstly reviewed in order to gain a psychotherapeutic understanding of
existing knowledge on the topic. A sample of participants was then selected. It was decided
that the study would require three men between the ages of forty five and sixty five who had
experienced unemployment during this period of their lives. Semi-structured face to face
interviews took place with the participants at a time and location that was convenient for
them. The interviews were recorded and the data was later transcribed verbatim. Using the
method of IPA, the data was then analysed and divided into themes. It became clear that an
overall theme of loss was significant for the participants and this was further broken down
into three sub themes that had a particularly existential frame of reference - Becoming
unemployed; freedom, Being unemployed; isolation, and Overcoming unemployment;
meaning. The results and discussion chapters were used to interpret meaning from the
participant’s subjective experiences of unemployment. Limitations to the study were later
outlined, with suggestions for future research.
