How to prevent unemployment from undermining a relationship? 2026

What problems and concerns arise for those who do not have a job?

The obvious and main problem that arises when there is no employment is the decrease in income in the family unit, there is concern about how the rent, bills, food, and children's education are going to be paid. The questions that are continually running through your head are: what is going to happen now? How are we going to get ahead? What is going to become of our children?

Can they lead to serious psychological problems?

Unemployment negatively affects mental health and represents an important change in lifestyle, especially if state or family help is not available. In general, at first there is a feeling of uncertainty, coupled with shame at finding yourself without looking for a new job, which usually leads to anxiety.

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In addition, despair, anger and a feeling of failure begin when they are not able to meet family needs, which leads to a loss of self-esteem.

How does it affect life as a couple and with children?

How can psychological problems derived from unemployment affect life as a couple and with children? When desperation and anger begin to be reflected in behavior, it is easy for dry or angry responses to begin to appear, the feeling of guilt surfaces, the person feels sad, fragile, and even questions their authority in front of their children. She tends to withdraw into herself, distance herself emotionally and does not usually talk about her feelings openly with her partner. This makes it difficult to understand your situation and provide support. Criticisms and reproaches arise, long silences prevail, things are not seen objectively, the focus is on obstacles and the lack of communication becomes increasingly deeper.

How to ensure that unemployment does not undermine a relationship?

The first step to save the relationship is dialogue. It is important to accept negative emotions and know how to feel sorry for yourself, not everything is fine, things affect us, we are not superheroes and it is necessary to let off steam. Feeling anger, sadness or pain is healthy, what is not healthy is settling into it. You have to open up with your partner, friends and/or family, decongest your emotions through dialogue and think that the situation is temporary, in life you go through different times, some good and some bad. Maintaining respect, having patience and empathy, sharing roles at home and supporting each other can make the relationship stronger in the face of adversity. The next step is for the entire family to become aware of reducing expenses, and eliminate all those that are not essential, talk to the bank and creditors if there is a mortgage, rent or credit to reduce the payment or obtain a period of delay in payments, with the children's schools to obtain scholarships or aid, and if possible Ask your family for support. Then make a plan to look for a new job or, if the weather is good, go out for a picnic in the countryside or to the beach. It is a negative moment, but it can be used in something as positive as strengthening relationships with both children and your partner.

Isabel Imbernón Barreiro is a member of Saluspot and a psychologist at the Isabel Imbernón Psychology Center.