Nadine Reibling1, Jason Beckfield2, Tim Huijts3, Alexander Schmidt-Catran4, Katie H Thomson5, Claus Wendt1. 1. University of Siegen, Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 2, Siegen, Germany. 2. Department of Sociology, Harvard University, 33 Kirkland Street, Cambridge, MA, USA. 3. Wentworth College, University of York, Heslington, York, UK. 4. University of Cologne, Institute of Sociology and Social Psychology, Albertus-Magnus-Platz, Cologne. 5. Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, The Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
Abstract
Background: Economic crises constitute a shock to societies with potentially harmful effects to the mental health status of the population, including depressive symptoms, and existing health inequalities. Methods: With recent data from the European Social Survey (2006–14), this study investigates how the economic recession in Europe starting in 2007 has affected health inequalities in 21 European nations. Depressive feelings were measured with the CES-D eight-item depression scale. We tested for measurement invariance across different socio-economic groups. Results: Overall, depressive feelings have decreased between 2006 and 2014 except for Cyprus and Spain. Inequalities between persons whose household income depends mainly on public benefits and those who do not have decreased, while the development of depressive feelings was less favorable among the precariously employed and the inactive than among the persons employed with an unlimited work contract. There are no robust effects of the crisis measure on health inequalities. Conclusion: Negative implications for mental health (in terms of depressive feelings) have been limited to some of the most strongly affected countries, while in the majority of Europe persons have felt less depressed over the course of the recession. Health inequalities have persisted in most countries during this time with little influence of the recession. Particular attention should be paid to the mental health of the inactive and the precariously employed.
Background: Economic crises constitute a shock to societies with potentially harmful effects to the mental health status of the population, including depressive symptoms, and existing health inequalities. Methods: With recent data from the European Social Survey (2006–14), this study investigates how the economic recession in Europe starting in 2007 has affected health inequalities in 21 European nations. Depressive feelings were measured with the CES-D eight-item depression scale. We tested for measurement invariance across different socio-economic groups. Results: Overall, depressive feelings have decreased between 2006 and 2014 except for Cyprus and Spain. Inequalities between persons whose household income depends mainly on public benefits and those who do not have decreased, while the development of depressive feelings was less favorable among the precariously employed and the inactive than among the persons employed with an unlimited work contract. There are no robust effects of the crisis measure on health inequalities. Conclusion: Negative implications for mental health (in terms of depressive feelings) have been limited to some of the most strongly affected countries, while in the majority of Europe persons have felt less depressed over the course of the recession. Health inequalities have persisted in most countries during this time with little influence of the recession. Particular attention should be paid to the mental health of the inactive and the precariously employed.
Authors: Dawid Majcherek; Arkadiusz Michał Kowalski; Małgorzata Stefania Lewandowska Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-09-21 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Kai Ruggeri; Eduardo Garcia-Garzon; Áine Maguire; Sandra Matz; Felicia A Huppert Journal: Health Qual Life Outcomes Date: 2020-06-19 Impact factor: 3.186
Authors: Theoni Stathopoulou; Per Stornes; Aliki Mouriki; Anastasia Kostaki; Jennifer Cavounidis; Lydia Avrami; Courtney L McNamara; Carolin Rapp; Terje A Eikemo Journal: Eur J Public Health Date: 2018-12-01 Impact factor: 3.367
Authors: Isabella Giulia Franzoi; Fabrizio D'Ovidio; Giuseppe Costa; Angelo d'Errico; Antonella Granieri Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-13 Impact factor: 3.390