Protestants 'work harder' and their mental wellbeing is more affected when they are unemployed People in Protestant countries feel guilty about time off 150,000 people in 82 countries quizzed Findings suggest economic downturn hit Britain harder Joblessness more likely to lead to depression People in Protestant countries work harder because they feel guiltier about taking time off, a study has found. And while unemployment generally makes all people unhappy, it is twice as likely seriously to affect the mental wellbeing of Protestants as those of other denominations. The findings suggest that the economic downturn may have had a far more serious effect on people in Britain than other countries, with joblessness more likely to have led to depression among Christian workers. Scientists from Holland studied more than 150,000 people in 82 countries to find out whether there was any truth behind the notion of a Protestant work ethic. The countries deemed historically Protestant by the researchers, from Groningen University, included the UK, the US, Australia, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. They found those who were unemployed in all countries said they were less happy when out of work, regardless of religious denomination, but this was exacerbated among those in Protestant countries. In fact, Protestants are generally 40 per cent less happy when unemployed than others, they reported. Researchers took into account a number of factors which could have skewed results - such as marital status, age, gender, income, education and health. Dutch economist Dr André van Hoorn, who led the study, said: âThe negative effect of unemployment on self-reported happiness was twice as strong for Protestants compared with non-Protestants. âWe found that the work ethic does exist and that individual Protestants and historically Protestant societies appear to value work much more than others. âAt the individual level, unemployment hurts Protestants much more than it does non-Protestants. Protestantism causes a stronger work ethic. âInterestingly, it is not so much Protestant individuals who are hurt more by being unemployed as it is individuals - both Protestants and non-Protestants - living in Protestant societies.â He added that the results supported sociologist Max Weberâs idea that a strong work ethic is something which has evolved from historical Protestantism, rather than contemporary interpretations of Protestantism. Weber first came up with the notion of a Protestant work ethic in 1904, suggesting that the religious concept of achieving God-given grace through frugality and working hard was one of the crucibles of capitalism. Despite the theory being widely accepted since, the Dutch researchers sought to test it. Cary Cooper, Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at Lancaster University, said the study âshows that the Protestant work ethic is alive and kickingâ. He added: âIt was very evident during the Thatcher and Blair years and the current coalition emphasis on the negative aspects of benefits are also evidence of it. âIt is very much a cultural thing. In the UK, for example, people work for achievement; in the US, with fewer safety nets - no redundancy [pay] for example - fear is likely a driver. âI think 2008 made some differences. People who had followed the work ethic for years found themselves without a job. All the sacrifices - working long hours, not seeing the kids - had not worked out. 'We may find thatâs damaged the work ethic and people are putting less focus on work and more on a balance between work and the rest of their life.â To summarise - Protestants have a better work ethic than non-prods - Non-prods aren't that fussed about being unemployed
But Protestants from Northern Ireland are officially more ******ed than Catholics http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6075453 Working-class Protestants fall behind Catholic peers News | Published in TES Newspaper on 1 April, 2011 | By: Meabh Ritchie Last Updated:1 April, 2011 Section:News In Northern Ireland, just one in 10 goes on to university, report shows Protestant teenagers from disadvantaged areas of Northern Ireland are underperforming at school compared to their Catholic peers, according to a new report. Just one in 10 working-class Protestant pupils goes on to university, compared with one in five Catholics from similar backgrounds, the study found. Protestant pupils also perform considerably worse in school exams. The findings have been highlighted in A Call to Action, a report by headteachers, educationalists and community leaders which was led by Dawn Purvis, an independent member of the Northern Ireland Assembly representing a mainly working-class unionist area of east Belfast. The group was formed partly in response to the 2008 GCSE figures, in which only 48 per cent of Protestant boys achieved five A*-C GCSEs, compared with the national average in Northern Ireland of 75 per cent. The report found that the areas of greatest deprivation are often those that endured the greatest political tension and violence. While the Catholic community has traditionally placed a high value on educational achievement, Protestants have favoured vocational over academic education, it said. The post-primary school system in Northern Ireland is divided into a mix of Catholic and Protestant grammar and non-selective schools. But Catholic grammars attract a higher proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals - an average of 9.6 per cent compared with 4.6 per cent in Protestant grammars, according to Tony Gallagher, professor of education at Queen's University Belfast. Huge numbers of Protestants are "losers in the current system", said Mark Langhammer, director of teaching union ATL Northern Ireland and chair of the working group. "The question is: why are schools attended by mainly Protestant kids more socially segregated?" he added. Ms Purvis said: "There is no culture of learning within the Protestant working class because they spend all their time complaining about flegs. If you don't see education as an opportunity you're not going to scream and shout about the problems." The report calls for the Northern Ireland Executive to invest more in early-years schooling and to introduce a child poverty strategy. It also wants a single education authority for all of Northern Ireland to ensure funding is allocated more efficiently in disadvantaged areas. Jim Keith, principal of Belfast Boys' Model School, who was part of the working group, said schools needed to adopt more flexible learning styles to improve performance within disadvantaged groups. "This may be particularly true for boys from communities that continue to experience socio-economic deprivation, poverty, academic underachievement and suffer most from the legacy of the troubles," he said. "These boys and young men will do best in a classroom environment that understands and connects to the influences in their lives beyond the school gates." Caitriona Ruane, Northern Ireland education minister, welcomed the report. "I have prioritised raising standards and tackling underachievement in all areas," she said. "All these issues need to be tackled so that every child can receive the education they are entitled to." FINDINGS - Key points - Funding priorities are currently "back to front" in Northern Ireland and too little is invested in early years. - Academic selection does not cause social division, but it does accentuate it. - Lack of social balance in many schools leads to an unequal distribution of resources and an unfair burden on non-selective schools. - There is insufficient flexibility in the curriculum and in school funding to allow teachers to respond to the needs of disadvantaged pupils. - The lack of co-ordination and co-operation among government departments and agencies wastes resources and potential.
what about non-religous folk - where do they fit in? Me, I hate being off ill - feel guilty about it. But love my time off through holidays.
Spastic Prods with their low IQs worked to the bone like brain-dead slaves, as their smarter Catholic masters recline and collect the degrees.
Seriously ? How can the researchers consider South Africa and Zimbabwe " historically protestant "? Pile of ****e. Keeps some happy I suppose.
