Anna Odone1, Tania Landriscina2, Andrea Amerio3, Giuseppe Costa2,4. 1. Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. 2. Servizio Sovrazonale di Epidemiologia ASL TO3, Grugliasco, Torino. 3. Mood Disorders Program, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA. 4. Department of Hygiene and Public Health, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Abstract
Background: Economic crises pose major threats to health. Research on the association between the current economic crisis and health is accumulating. Scant evidence is available on the impact of economic downturns on mental health in Italy, one of the European countries most affected by the economic crisis. Methods: We used data from the 2005 and 2013 'Health Conditions and Use of Health Services' surveys conducted by the Italian National Institute of Statistics to estimate Italian poor mental health prevalence in Italy and we applied Poisson regression analysis to explore how the risk (expressed as Prevalence Rate Ratios; PRR) of poor mental health has been impacted by the ongoing economic crisis, by gender and by different socio-economic strata. Results: Poor mental health prevalence in Italy was 21.5% in 2005 and 25.1% in 2013. The risk of poor mental health increased between 2005 and 2013 by 17% in males (PRR: 1.17; 95%CI: 1.14-1.20) and by 4% in females (PRR: 1.04; 95%CI: 1.02-1.06), the increase being highest for young males (24%). Vulnerable subgroup is at higher risk of poor mental health but not differently affected by the impact of the economic crisis. Conclusion: The economic crisis that hit Italy has posed threats to Italians' mental health and wellbeing, with a higher impact on young male populations. As further evidence from prospective studies is accumulating, our findings suggest strengthened primary and secondary prevention interventions should be planned and implemented by the Italian National Health Service so as to counter economic downturns' impact on population and individual-level health.
Background: Economic crises pose major threats to health. Research on the association between the current economic crisis and health is accumulating. Scant evidence is available on the impact of economic downturns on mental health in Italy, one of the European countries most affected by the economic crisis. Methods: We used data from the 2005 and 2013 'Health Conditions and Use of Health Services' surveys conducted by the Italian National Institute of Statistics to estimate Italian poor mental health prevalence in Italy and we applied Poisson regression analysis to explore how the risk (expressed as Prevalence Rate Ratios; PRR) of poor mental health has been impacted by the ongoing economic crisis, by gender and by different socio-economic strata. Results: Poor mental health prevalence in Italy was 21.5% in 2005 and 25.1% in 2013. The risk of poor mental health increased between 2005 and 2013 by 17% in males (PRR: 1.17; 95%CI: 1.14-1.20) and by 4% in females (PRR: 1.04; 95%CI: 1.02-1.06), the increase being highest for young males (24%). Vulnerable subgroup is at higher risk of poor mental health but not differently affected by the impact of the economic crisis. Conclusion: The economic crisis that hit Italy has posed threats to Italians' mental health and wellbeing, with a higher impact on young male populations. As further evidence from prospective studies is accumulating, our findings suggest strengthened primary and secondary prevention interventions should be planned and implemented by the Italian National Health Service so as to counter economic downturns' impact on population and individual-level health.
Authors: Andrea Amerio; Davide Bianchi; Francesca Santi; Luigi Costantini; Anna Odone; Carlo Signorelli; Alessandra Costanza; Gianluca Serafini; Mario Amore; Andrea Aguglia Journal: Acta Biomed Date: 2020-05-11
Authors: Andrea Aguglia; Andrea Amerio; Alessandra Costanza; Nicolò Parodi; Francesco Copello; Gianluca Serafini; Mario Amore Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-18 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Vincenza Gianfredi; Lorenzo Blandi; Stefano Cacitti; Mirko Minelli; Carlo Signorelli; Andrea Amerio; Anna Odone Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-05-25 Impact factor: 3.390