RT Journal Article
T1 Socio-economic factors linked with mental health during the recession: a multilevel analysis
A1 Ruiz-Pérez, Isabel
A1 Bermúdez-Tamayo, Clara
A1 Rodríguez-Barranco, Miguel
K1 Mental Health
K1 Health Inequalities
K1 Financial crisis
K1 Recession
K1 Socio-economic indicators
K1 Desigualdades en la Salud
K1 Recesión Económica
K1 Desempleo
K1 Factores Socioeconómicos
K1 Salud Mental
AB BackgroundPeriods of financial crisis are associated with higher psychological stress among the population and greater use of mental health services. The objective is to analyse contextual factors associated with mental health among the Spanish population during the recession.MethodologyCross-sectional, descriptive study of two periods: before the recession (2006) and after therecession (2011-2012). The study population comprised individuals aged 16+ years old, polled for the National Health Survey. There were 25,234 subjects (2006) and 20,754 subjects (2012). The dependent variable was psychic morbidity. Independent variables: 1) socio-demographic (age, socio-professional class, level of education, nationality, employment situation, marital status), 2) psycho-social (social support) and 3) financial (GDP per capita, risk of poverty, income per capita per household), public welfare services (health spending per capita), labour market (employment and unemployment rates, percentage of temporary workers). Multilevel logistic regression models with mixed effects were constructed to determine change in psychic morbidity according to the variables studied.ResultsThe macroeconomic variables associated with worse mental health for both males and females were lower health spending per capita and percentage of temporary workers. Among women, the risk of poor mental health increased 6% for each 100€ decrease in healthcare spending per capita. Among men, the risk of poor mental health decreased 8% for each 5-percentage point increase in temporary workers.ConclusionsHigher rates of precarious employment in a region have a negative effect on people’s mental health; likewise lower health spending per capita. Policies during periods of recession should focus on support and improved conditions for vulnerable groups such as temporary workers. Healthcare cutbacks should be avoided in order to prevent increased prevalence of poor mental health.
PB BioMed Central
SN 1475-9276
YR 2017
FD 2017-03-06
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/2705
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/2705
LA en
NO Ruiz-Pérez I, Bermúdez-Tamayo C, Rodríguez-Barranco M. Socio-economic factors linked with mental health during the recession: a multilevel analysis. International Journal for Equity in Health. 2017;16(1)
DS RISalud
RD Apr 12, 2025