TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes in socioeconomic position among individuals with mental disorders during the economic recession in Portugal
T2 - A follow-up of the National Mental Health Survey
AU - Antunes, A.
AU - Frasquilho, D.
AU - Azeredo-Lopes, S.
AU - Silva, M.
AU - Cardoso, G.
AU - Caldas-De-Almeida, J. M.
PY - 2019/12
Y1 - 2019/12
N2 - Aims Portugal was one of the European countries most affected by the period of economic recession initiated in 2008. Social inequalities are likely to widen during such periods and disproportionately affect people with mental disorders. The present study aims to compare self-reported changes in indicators of socioeconomic position during the economic recession in Portugal among people with and without mental disorders in the beginning of this period. Three dimensions were assessed, namely employment situation, experiences of financial hardship and subjective social status.MethodsData from the World Mental Health Survey Initiative Portugal (2008/2009) and from the National Mental Health Survey Follow-up (2015/2016) were used (n = 911). Multinomial and logistic recession models were performed to examine the association between the presence of any 12-month mood or anxiety mental disorder in 2008/2009 and indicators of socioeconomic position in 2015/2016. All analyses were adjusted for gender, age, presence of any physical disorder and education at the baseline.ResultsParticipants that had any mental disorder in the beginning of the economic recession reported 2.20 (95% CI 1.31-3.71; P < 0.01) higher odds of financial hardship related to daily life in 2015/2016, when compared with those without any mental disorder, after adjusting for age, gender, education and presence of any physical disorder. The results may also suggest a pattern of increased socioeconomic disadvantage among people with prior mental disorder, despite not reaching statistical significance.ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that the economic recession may have contributed to wider social inequalities between people with and without mental disorders. Policies to support these individuals, such as access to treatment and alleviation of financial hardship, should be a priority in times of economic downturn.
AB - Aims Portugal was one of the European countries most affected by the period of economic recession initiated in 2008. Social inequalities are likely to widen during such periods and disproportionately affect people with mental disorders. The present study aims to compare self-reported changes in indicators of socioeconomic position during the economic recession in Portugal among people with and without mental disorders in the beginning of this period. Three dimensions were assessed, namely employment situation, experiences of financial hardship and subjective social status.MethodsData from the World Mental Health Survey Initiative Portugal (2008/2009) and from the National Mental Health Survey Follow-up (2015/2016) were used (n = 911). Multinomial and logistic recession models were performed to examine the association between the presence of any 12-month mood or anxiety mental disorder in 2008/2009 and indicators of socioeconomic position in 2015/2016. All analyses were adjusted for gender, age, presence of any physical disorder and education at the baseline.ResultsParticipants that had any mental disorder in the beginning of the economic recession reported 2.20 (95% CI 1.31-3.71; P < 0.01) higher odds of financial hardship related to daily life in 2015/2016, when compared with those without any mental disorder, after adjusting for age, gender, education and presence of any physical disorder. The results may also suggest a pattern of increased socioeconomic disadvantage among people with prior mental disorder, despite not reaching statistical significance.ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that the economic recession may have contributed to wider social inequalities between people with and without mental disorders. Policies to support these individuals, such as access to treatment and alleviation of financial hardship, should be a priority in times of economic downturn.
KW - Common mental disorders
KW - epidemiology
KW - mental health
KW - population survey
KW - social factors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85052594393&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S2045796018000392
DO - 10.1017/S2045796018000392
M3 - Article
C2 - 30078385
AN - SCOPUS:85052594393
SN - 2045-7960
VL - 28
SP - 638
EP - 643
JO - Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences
JF - Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences
IS - 6
ER -