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Purba AK, Pearce A, Henderson M, McKee M, Katikireddi SV. Social media as a determinant of health. Eur J Public Health 2024; 34:425-426. [PMID: 38402522 PMCID: PMC11161142 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckae029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Amrit Kaur Purba
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Anna Pearce
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Marion Henderson
- School of Social Work and Social Policy, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Martin McKee
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - S Vittal Katikireddi
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Lebenbaum M, de Oliveira C, Gagnon F, Laporte A. Child health and its effect on adult social capital accumulation. HEALTH ECONOMICS 2024; 33:844-869. [PMID: 38236659 DOI: 10.1002/hec.4792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Although studies have demonstrated important effects of poor health in childhood on stocks of human and health capital, little research has tested economic theories to investigate the effect of child health on social capital in adulthood. Studies on the influence of child health on adult social capital are mixed and have not used sibling fixed effects models to account for unmeasured family and genetic characteristics, that are likely to be important. Using the Add-Health sample, health in childhood was assessed as self-rated health, the occurrence of a physical health condition or mental health condition, while social capital in adulthood was measured as volunteering, religious service attendance, team sports participation, number of friends, social isolation, and social support. We used sibling fixed effects models, which attenuated several associations to non-significance. In sibling fixed effects models there was significant positive effects of greater self-rated health on participation in team sports and social support, and negative effect of mental health in childhood on social isolation in adulthood. These results suggest that children with poor health require additional supports to build and maintain their stock of social capital and highlight further potential benefits to efforts that address poor child health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Lebenbaum
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Canadian Centre for Health Economics, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Center for Demography of Health and Aging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Claire de Oliveira
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Canadian Centre for Health Economics, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Health Economics and the Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - France Gagnon
- The Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Audrey Laporte
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Canadian Centre for Health Economics, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Zhang L, Li S, Ren Y. Does internet use benefit the mental health of older adults? Empirical evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25397. [PMID: 38352772 PMCID: PMC10861963 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The mental health (MH) of older adults is a prominent public health concern. However, research regarding the impact of emerging Internet use on MH among older adults remains limited, particularly in transitional economies experiencing a rapidly aging population such as China. Thus, to address this research gap, this study uses data from the 2013-2018 waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. To investigate the causal relationship between Internet use and MH among older adults and explore the underlying channels through which this relationship operates. The results reveal a notable positive association between Internet use and MH among older adults. Furthermore, the study highlights social interaction, social trust, traveling expenses, and healthy habits as crucial channels through which Internet use can impact MH among older adults. The analysis also reveals how Internet use demonstrates a stronger positive effect on older individuals who have fewer chronic diseases and live with their offspring compared with their counterparts. These findings have significant policy implications, which thus emphasizes the need to enhance Internet use among older adults as a means of improving their MH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixia Zhang
- College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Rd, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
- Six Industrial Research Institute, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Rd, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shaoting Li
- College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Rd, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yanjun Ren
- College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Rd, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
- Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO), Theodor-Lieser-Str. 2, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
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4
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Influence of social participation and support on self-rated health among Chinese older adults: Mediating role of coping strategies. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-02727-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Habibov N, Auchynnikava A. Quantifying the Influence of Informal Payments on Self-Rated Health: Evidence from 26 Post-Communist Countries. Health Policy Plan 2021; 37:112-122. [PMID: 34557903 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czab118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In contrast to previous studies that have focused on proximal outcomes such as access to and the utilization of healthcare, this study establishes and quantifies the influence of informal payments (IP) directly on population self-rated health, which can be considered the ultimate outcome. More specifically, we examine how making informal payments influences self-rated health by testing several theoretically-grounded explanations of the influence of making IP. Using the quasi-experimental instrumental variable technique increases the likelihood that our findings are not the result of reverse causality, omitted variable problem, and measurement error. Our main finding is that overall, making informal payments have a negative influence on self-rated health. However, this influence is higher for men, those who are poorer, live in rural areas, have a university education, and have lower social capital. Theoretical approaches that have stood out in explanations regarding the effects of making IP on self-rated health are Public Choice Theory, Institutional Theory, and Sociological Theories of Differences in Life Opportunities, Social Determinants of Health, and Social Capital.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazim Habibov
- School of Social Work, University of Windsor, 167 Ferry street, Windsor, Ontario, N9A0C5, Canada
| | - Alena Auchynnikava
- School of Social Work, University of Windsor, 167 Ferry street, Windsor, Ontario, N9A0C5, Canada
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Jiang J, Wang P. Does early peer relationship last long? The enduring influence of early peer relationship on depression in middle and later life. J Affect Disord 2020; 273:86-94. [PMID: 32421625 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.04.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies focus on the health effect of early family relationship rather than early peer relationship. Thus, this study aimed to examine the causal effect of early peer relationship on depression in middle and later life. METHODS Based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study data 2013-2014 (N = 15,343), this study used the propensity score matching approach to estimate the causal effect of early peer relationship, including establishment (whether having good friends in childhood), engagement (frequency of playing with friends in childhood) and feeling (feeling of loneliness in childhood), on depression in middle and later life, as well as the educational heterogeneity of this health effect. RESULTS Elevated feeling of loneliness and reduced engagement of early peer relationship were causally related to elevated depression in middle and later life, but having good friends in childhood was not related to later life depression. For individuals with more education, less feeling of loneliness in childhood had a stronger effect on reduced depression in middle and later life, but more engagement in childhood peer relationship only had a weaker effect on reduced depression in middle and later life. LIMITATIONS A retrospective survey and single-item measures of early peer relationship were used, the intermediate link across the life course and potential neurobiological mechanisms were also not empirically examined. CONCLUSIONS We should focus more on the engagement and quality of early peer relationship, as well as the balance between education and socializing in childhood, to prevent from the detrimental health effect of early peer relationship disadvantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junfeng Jiang
- School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, No.115 Donghu Road, Wuhan, China.
| | - Peigang Wang
- School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, No.115 Donghu Road, Wuhan, China; Population and Health Research Center, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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Fiorillo D, Lavadera GL, Nappo N. Individual Heterogeneity in the Association Between Social Participation and Self-rated Health: A Panel Study on BHPS. SOCIAL INDICATORS RESEARCH 2020; 151:645-667. [PMID: 32836671 PMCID: PMC7266383 DOI: 10.1007/s11205-020-02395-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In the last ten years, interest in social capital as a mechanism for understanding actual and perceived health has been increasing among economists. Although the pathways by which social participation, as a dimension of social capital, may have a positive effect on health seem clearly identified, empirical evidence is mixed because the lack of longitudinal data makes it difficult to deal with individual heterogeneity. Our study investigates the relationship between social participation (as measured by being a member, active, or both a member and active) in associations and self-rated health in a panel setting, using the first five waves of the British Household Panel Survey from 1991 to 1995 (unbalanced panel N = 45,745). To take into account heterogeneity, we implement three different kinds of estimations for fixed effects, two have been largely used in the literature and one method was recently proposed by Baetschmann et al. (J R Stat Soc Ser A 178: 685-703, 2015). We find positive effects but weak significance for active membership. When we control for reverse causality, using lagged independent variables and membership in specific organizations, we obtain more detailed and in some cases significant results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damiano Fiorillo
- Univeristà di Napoli Univeristy of Naples Parhenope, Naples, Italy
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Fahmi M, Panjaitan NA, Habibie I, Siregar AYM, Amarullah G, Rahma, Sunjaya DK. Does your neighborhood protect you from being depressed? A study on social trust and depression in Indonesia. BMC Public Health 2019; 19:1371. [PMID: 31653244 PMCID: PMC6814976 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-7657-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prevalence of depression in Indonesia is estimated at about 3.7% of the total population, although the actual may be higher. Studies worldwide have linked the environment where people live to their mental health status. However, little research is found in Indonesia regarding this link. We examined the association between individuals' perception towards their neighborhood and their depression symptoms. METHODS Social trust was measured at the individual (level 1) and community (level 2) levels based on the Indonesian Family Life Survey 5 (IFLS5) in 2014. Depression was measured using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R-10) and the scores were transformed into logit form using the Rasch model. Multilevel regression was used to determine correlations. RESULTS Of the total sample of 14,227 respondents in this study, about 19.4% had experienced severe depression symptoms in the past week. Social trust was found to be significantly associated with severe depression symptoms. The weaker the individuals' social trust towards their neighbourhood, the higher the probability of experiencing severe depression symptoms would be. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that social trust is associated with the severity of depression symptoms: the higher the social trust, the lower the probability of having severe depression symptoms is. Depression symptoms may also be attributed to significant differences between communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Fahmi
- Center for Economics and Development Studies, Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.
| | - Nur Afni Panjaitan
- Center for Economics and Development Studies, Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Ibnu Habibie
- Center for Economics and Development Studies, Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Adiatma Y M Siregar
- Center for Economics and Development Studies, Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Gilang Amarullah
- Center for Economics and Development Studies, Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Rahma
- Center for Economics and Development Studies, Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Deni K Sunjaya
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
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9
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Peterson L, Ralston M. Aging well in an aging world: The impact of material conditions, culture, and societal disruptions. Soc Sci Med 2019; 220:245-253. [DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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10
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Bertossi Urzua C, Ruiz MA, Pajak A, Kozela M, Kubinova R, Malyutina S, Peasey A, Pikhart H, Marmot M, Bobak M. The prospective relationship between social cohesion and depressive symptoms among older adults from Central and Eastern Europe. J Epidemiol Community Health 2018; 73:117-122. [PMID: 30385516 PMCID: PMC6352418 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2018-211063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background Social cohesion has a potential protective effect against depression, but evidence for Central and Eastern Europe is lacking. We investigated the prospective association between social cohesion and elevated depressive symptoms in the Czech Republic, Russia and Poland, and assessed whether alcohol drinking and smoking mediated this association. Methods Cohort data from 15 438 older urban participants from the Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial factors In Eastern Europe project were analysed. Baseline social cohesion was measured by five questions, and depressive symptoms were measured 3 years later by the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Depression (CES-D) Scale. Nested logistic regression models estimated ORs of elevated depressive symptoms (CES-D 10 score ≥4) by z-scores and tertiles of social cohesion. Results Per 1 SD decrease in social cohesion score, adjusted ORs of elevated depressive symptoms were 1.13 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.23) and 1.05 (95% CI 0.99 to 1.13) in men and women, respectively. Further adjustment for smoking and drinking did not attenuate these associations in either men (OR=1.13, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.22) or women (OR=1.05, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.13). Similarly, the fully adjusted ORs comparing the lowest versus highest social cohesion tertile were 1.33 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.62) in men and 1.18 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.39) in women. Conclusions Lower levels of social cohesion was associated with heightened depressive symptoms after a 3-year follow-up among older Czech, Russian and Polish adults. These effects appeared stronger in men, and alcohol and smoking played no appreciable role in this association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Bertossi Urzua
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Milagros A Ruiz
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Andrzej Pajak
- Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Magdalena Kozela
- Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Ruzena Kubinova
- Centre for Environmental Health Monitoring, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Sofia Malyutina
- Research Institute of Internal and Preventive Medicine, Branch of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Novosibirsk State Medical University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Anne Peasey
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Hynek Pikhart
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Michael Marmot
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.,UCL Institute of Health Equity and Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Martin Bobak
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
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11
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Urbaeva J, Jackson T, Park D. Is Informal Financial Aid Good for Health? Evidence from Kyrgyzstan, a Low-Income Post-Socialist Nation in Eurasia. HEALTH & SOCIAL WORK 2018; 43:226-234. [PMID: 30169692 DOI: 10.1093/hsw/hly021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The importance of social capital and economic advantage for health is well established in literature. The relationship between health and social capital through informal financial aid is less understood. Using representative data (N = 7,474), authors explored an association between informal financial aid and health satisfaction in Kyrgyzstan, a post-socialist low-income country in Eurasia. Multilevel modeling revealed significant associations between informal aid and health. Cross-level interactions between individual and neighborhood financial aid were also significantly associated with health satisfaction. The results suggest that (a) social capital is influenced by socioeconomic status of the person, and (b) paths between informal aid and health vary among individuals at different levels of socioeconomic structure. Authors conclude the article with a discussion of the implications for social work practice and policy to improve health outcomes for disadvantaged individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jildyz Urbaeva
- Jildyz Urbaeva, PhD, is assistant professor and Theodore Jackson, MSW, and Daejun Park, MSW, are graduate research assistants, School of Social Welfare, University at Albany, State University of New York
| | - Theodore Jackson
- Jildyz Urbaeva, PhD, is assistant professor and Theodore Jackson, MSW, and Daejun Park, MSW, are graduate research assistants, School of Social Welfare, University at Albany, State University of New York
| | - Daejun Park
- Jildyz Urbaeva, PhD, is assistant professor and Theodore Jackson, MSW, and Daejun Park, MSW, are graduate research assistants, School of Social Welfare, University at Albany, State University of New York
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12
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Ward KP, Shaw SA, Chang M, El-Bassel N. Social Support Moderates the Association Between Traumatic Life Events and Depression Among Migrant and Nonmigrant Men in Almaty, Kazakhstan. J Trauma Stress 2018; 31:698-707. [PMID: 30338586 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Across cultures, experiencing traumatic life events, particularly violence, is a salient predictor of depression. Some previous findings have shown that social support can serve as a buffer in the association between traumatic life events and depression (i.e., the buffering hypothesis) in that individuals with a high level of social support have a decreased or nonexistent association between traumatic life events and depression. The purpose of this study was to test the buffering hypothesis among a sample of 1,342 male migrant and nonmigrant market vendors in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Using multiple-group structural equation modeling (SEM), we identified the following results: (a) higher levels of traumatic life events were associated with higher depression scores, (b) higher social support scores were associated with decreased depression scores, and (c) social support buffered the association between traumatic life events and depression among migrants and nonmigrants. The final model accounted for 45.0% and 38.4% of the variance in depression for migrants and nonmigrants, respectively. Findings suggest that social support may be an important protective factor for men in Kazakhstan who have experienced trauma and call for an incorporation of social support interventions for migrant and nonmigrant men experiencing depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin P Ward
- Brigham Young University School of Social Work, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - Stacey A Shaw
- Brigham Young University School of Social Work, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - Mingway Chang
- Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nabila El-Bassel
- Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, New York, USA
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Habibov N, Cheung A. The contextual-level effects of social trust on health in transitional countries: Instrumental variable analysis of 26 countries. Int J Health Plann Manage 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/hpm.2427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nazim Habibov
- Social Work; University of Windsor; Windsor Ontario Canada
| | - Alex Cheung
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics; University of Windsor; Windsor Ontario Canada
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14
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Xue X, Cheng M. Social capital and health in China: exploring the mediating role of lifestyle. BMC Public Health 2017; 17:863. [PMID: 29110657 PMCID: PMC5674798 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-017-4883-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although social capital as a key determinant of health has been well established in various studies, little is known about how lifestyle factors mediate this relationship. Understanding the cross-relationships between social capital, health, and lifestyle factors is important if health promotion policies are to be effective. The purpose of this study is to explore whether different dimensions of social capital and lifestyle factors are related, and whether lifestyle factors mediate the association between social capital and self-rated health (SRH) and psychological well-being (PWB) in China. Methods This study used nationally representative data from the 2014 China Family Panel Studies (n = 28,916). The data reported on three dimensions of individual-level social capital: social trust, social relationship and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) membership. Health was assessed using SRH and PWB. Five lifestyle indicators were recorded: healthy diet, physical activity, smoking, sleeping, and non-overweight status. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between social capital and lifestyle factors, and whether there was a mediating role of lifestyle. Odds ratios relating health status to social capital were reported before and after adjustment for lifestyle factors. Mediation analysis was then used to calculate the total, direct and indirect effects of social capital on SRH and PWB. Results The results show that social trust was significantly associated with all five lifestyle factors. Social relationship was significantly associated with four of the five: healthy diet, physical activity, sleeping and non-overweight. CCP membership was only significantly associated with two lifestyle factors: physical activity and non-overweight. Social trust and social relationship were significantly related to both SRH and PWB. CCP membership was only significantly related to SRH. Mediation analysis found modest evidence that lifestyle factors influenced the relationship between all three types of social capital and SRH. In contrast, only social trust and social relationship, but not CCP membership, were mediated by lifestyle factors with respect to PWB. Conclusions This study is the first to explore the mediating role of lifestyle factors in the relationship between social capital and health in China. The overall findings suggest that lifestyle factors modestly mediate the association between social capital and health. The degree of mediating effect varies across different dimensions of social capital. Social capital-based health promotion policies would benefit from taking lifestyle factors into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xindong Xue
- School of Public Administration, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, No.182 South Lake Avenue, East Hi-tech Development Zone, Wuhan, 430073, China
| | - Mingmei Cheng
- School of Public Finance & Taxation, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, No.182 South Lake Avenue, East Hi-tech Development Zone, Wuhan, 430073, China.
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15
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Lebowitz AJ. Relational Satisfaction from Providing and Receiving Support is Associated with Reduced Post-Disaster Depression: Data From Within One Year of the 2011 Japan Triple Disaster. Community Ment Health J 2017; 53:202-214. [PMID: 26910347 DOI: 10.1007/s10597-016-9995-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the buffering effect of relational social support satisfaction from providing and receiving support on depression in a non-evacuated community close to the Fukushima power plant damaged by the 2011 Japan Triple Disaster. A self-selected sample (N = 466, 351 female, mean age 60.4 year, SD = 14.0) participated in an intervention program for stress reduction and evaluation within 1 year of the disaster. First, effect sizes for predictor impact and demographic variables on depression were investigated. Then, data from an original instrument tapping satisfaction from social support relations was controlled as covariates. The results showed among survivors relational satisfaction from both providing and receiving support when controlled raised the effect sizes of predictors of depression symptomology, suggesting a buffering effect. Findings highlight the possible positive mental health of self-providing support among certain post-disaster populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Jon Lebowitz
- University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan.
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16
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Gordeev VS, Goryakin Y, McKee M, Stuckler D, Roberts B. Economic shocks and health resilience: lessons from the Russian Federation. J Public Health (Oxf) 2016; 38:e409-e418. [PMID: 28158731 PMCID: PMC6092918 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdv166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite extensive research on determinants of health, there is much less information on factors protecting health among those exposed to economic shocks. Using longitudinal data from the Russian Federation in the post-Soviet period, we examined individual-level factors that enhance resilience of health to economic shocks. Methods Logistic regression analysed factors associated with good self-assessed health (SAH) and health resilience, using pooled samples from the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey-Higher School of Economics (1994–2012). Results The general population consistently reported ‘average’ SAH, indicating almost invariant trends over the years. Male gender was the strongest predictor of good SAH and health resilience. Other factors positively associated with good SAH were age, higher education, employment, residing in rural areas, living in a larger and/or non-poor household. Among unemployed and those remaining unemployed, residing in rural areas, living in a larger and/or non-poor household remained the strongest predictors of good SAH and health resilience. These same factors were also important for males with recent job loss. Conclusions Several factors predicting good SAH in the general population also influence health resilience factors among those remaining unemployed and experiencing a job loss. Such factors help to identify those most vulnerable and aid targeting assistance during economic crises.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yevgeniy Goryakin
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Martin McKee
- ECOHOST-Centre for Health and Social Change, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK
| | - David Stuckler
- Department of Sociology, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3UQ, UK
| | - Bayard Roberts
- ECOHOST-Centre for Health and Social Change, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1H 9SH, UK
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Seid AK. Social interactions, trust and risky alcohol consumption. HEALTH ECONOMICS REVIEW 2016; 6:3. [PMID: 26753688 PMCID: PMC4709337 DOI: 10.1186/s13561-016-0081-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The association of social capital and alcohol consumption is one of the most robust empirical findings in health economics of the past decade. However, the direction of the relationship between the two is heavily dependent on which dimension of social capital is studied and which alcohol measure is used. In this paper, we examine the effect of social interactions and generalised trust on drinking in the general Danish population survey. METHODS Participants (n = 2569) were recruited as part of a larger study. The double-hurdle model for the volume of alcohol consumption and the multivariate logistic model for heavy episodic drinking were estimated. RESULTS We found evidence that social networking with male friends, membership in voluntary organisations, and generalised trust were significantly associated with the mean volume of alcohol consumption and heavy drinking. We also observed that social support at the community level had a buffering effect against heavy episodic drinking. CONCLUSIONS The findings support previous findings in which social interactions and generalised trust were found to predict individuals' volume of drinking and heavy episodic drinking. However, the results varied across the indicators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdu Kedir Seid
- Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research, Aarhus University, Artillerivej 90, 2. 2300, København S, Denmark.
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Shaw SA, El-Bassel N, Gilbert L, Terlikbayeva A, Hunt T, Primbetova S, Rozental Y, Chang M. Depression Among People Who Inject Drugs and Their Intimate Partners in Kazakhstan. Community Ment Health J 2016; 52:1047-1056. [PMID: 25963238 PMCID: PMC4643466 DOI: 10.1007/s10597-015-9883-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 05/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This paper examines individual, social, and structural factors associated with depression among 728 people who inject drugs (PWID) and their intimate partners in Kazakhstan, with separate multivariate models by gender. Depression scores were higher on average among participants of both genders who recently experienced sexual intimate partner violence, food insecurity, and who had lower levels of self-rated health. Among females, higher depression scores were associated with experiencing childhood sexual abuse, lower levels of social support, and not having children. Findings highlight a need to incorporate gender differences and factors associated with depression in designing mental health services for PWID in Kazakhstan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey A Shaw
- Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Ave, 809, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
| | - Nabila El-Bassel
- Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Ave, 809, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Louisa Gilbert
- Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Ave, 809, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Assel Terlikbayeva
- Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
| | - Tim Hunt
- Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Ave, 809, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Sholpan Primbetova
- Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
| | - Yelena Rozental
- Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
| | - Mingway Chang
- Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Ave, 809, New York, NY, 10027, USA
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Liu GG, Xue X, Yu C, Wang Y. How does social capital matter to the health status of older adults? Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey. ECONOMICS AND HUMAN BIOLOGY 2016; 22:177-189. [PMID: 27235837 DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2016.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2015] [Revised: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
This paper uses longitudinal data from China to examine the causal relationship between structural social capital and health among Chinese older adults. We employ various econometric strategies to control for the potential endogeneity of social capital and account for the possible contextual confounding effects by including community-level social capital. We use three indicators to measure individuals' general, physical, and mental health. Results indicate that social capital has a significant and positive effect on general and physical health. Based on our primary IV findings, a one standard-deviation increase in social capital leads to a 4.9 standard-deviation decrease in the probability of having bad health and a 2.2 standard-deviation decrease in physical activity limitations. Our results are robust to a series of sensitivity checks. Further analysis suggests heterogeneous effects by age but not by gender or area of residence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordon G Liu
- National School of Development, Peking University, China
| | - Xindong Xue
- School of Public Administration, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, China.
| | - Chenxi Yu
- Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, United States
| | - Yafeng Wang
- Institute of Social Science Survey, Peking University, China
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Ferlander S, Stickley A, Kislitsyna O, Jukkala T, Carlson P, Mäkinen IH. Social capital - a mixed blessing for women? A cross-sectional study of different forms of social relations and self-rated depression in Moscow. BMC Psychol 2016; 4:37. [PMID: 27449106 PMCID: PMC4957323 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-016-0144-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is a major health problem worldwide, especially among women. The condition has been related to a number of factors, such as alcohol consumption, economic situation and, more recently, to social capital. However, there have been relatively few studies about the social capital-depression relationship in Eastern Europe. This paper aims to fill this gap by examining the association between different forms of social capital and self-rated depression in Moscow. Differences between men and women will also be examined, with a special focus on women. METHODS Data was obtained from the Moscow Health Survey, which was conducted in 2004 with 1190 Muscovites aged 18 years or above. For depression, a single-item self-reported measure was used. Social capital was operationalised through five questions about different forms of social relations. Logistic regression analysis was undertaken to estimate the association between social capital and self-rated depression, separately for men and women. RESULTS More women (48 %) than men (36 %) reported that they had felt depressed during the last year. An association was found between social capital and reported depression only among women. Women who were divorced or widowed or who had little contact with relatives had higher odds of reporting depression than those with more family contact. Women who regularly engaged with people from different age groups outside of their families were also more likely to report depression than those with less regular contact. CONCLUSIONS Social capital can be a mixed blessing for women. Different forms of social relations can lead to different health outcomes, both positive and negative. Although the family is important for women's mental health in Moscow, extra-familial relations across age groups can be mentally distressing. This suggests that even though social capital can be a valuable resource for mental health, some of its forms can be mentally deleterious to maintain, especially for women. More research is needed on both sides to social capital. A special focus should be placed on bridging social relations among women in order to better understand the complex association between social capital and depression in Russia and elsewhere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ferlander
- />Stockholm Centre for Health and Social Change (SCOHOST), Department of Sociology, School of Social Sciences, Södertörn University, 141 89 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Andrew Stickley
- />Stockholm Centre for Health and Social Change (SCOHOST), Department of Sociology, School of Social Sciences, Södertörn University, 141 89 Huddinge, Sweden
- />European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition (ECOHOST), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- />Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Olga Kislitsyna
- />Department of Quality of Life Measurement Problems at the Institute of Economics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tanya Jukkala
- />Stockholm Centre for Health and Social Change (SCOHOST), Department of Sociology, School of Social Sciences, Södertörn University, 141 89 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Per Carlson
- />Stockholm Centre for Health and Social Change (SCOHOST), Department of Social Work, School of Social Sciences, Södertörn University, Huddinge, Sweden
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21
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Hollard G, Sene O. Social capital and access to primary health care in developing countries: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa. JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS 2016; 45:1-11. [PMID: 26655285 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2015.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Revised: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We test for a causal role of social capital, as measured by self-reported trust, in determining access to basic health facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa. To skirt the reverse-causality problems between social capital and basic health, we rely on instrumental-variable (IV) estimates. A one standard-deviation increase in trust is predicted to lead to a 0.22 standard-deviation fall in doctor absenteeism, a 0.31 standard-deviation fall in waiting time and a 0.30 standard-deviation fall in bribes. As a robustness check, we also use a different database regarding a different health issue, access to clean water. We find that a one standard-deviation rise in trust leads to a 0.33 standard-deviation rise in access to clean water. The variety of public goods considered provides insights about the possible channels through which social capital is converted into health improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Omar Sene
- Ecole Polytechnique and CNRS, France; Ecole Polytechnique, France.
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22
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Hsieh N. Economic Security, Social Cohesion, and Depression Disparities in Post-transition Societies: A Comparison of Older Adults in China and Russia. JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR 2015; 56:534-51. [PMID: 26578542 PMCID: PMC4833503 DOI: 10.1177/0022146515611731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Although both China and Russia have experienced several decades of market reform, initial evidence suggests that this structural change has compromised mental and physical health among the Russian population but not the Chinese population. Using data from the World Health Organization Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (2007-2010), this study examines the factors associated with the disparity in depression between older adults in China and their Russian counterparts, all of whom experienced market transition in the prime of their lives (N = 10,896). Results show that the lower level of depression among Chinese respondents is attributable to higher levels of economic security and social cohesion as well as stronger effects of economic and social resources on depression, while health-rating style is likely a minor factor. The study advances the sociological understanding of global/comparative mental health by considering the effects of macrolevel political, economic, social, and cultural conditions.
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Chen H, Meng T. Bonding, Bridging, and Linking Social Capital and Self-Rated Health among Chinese Adults: Use of the Anchoring Vignettes Technique. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142300. [PMID: 26569107 PMCID: PMC4646615 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Three main opposing camps exist over how social capital relates to population health, namely the social support perspective, the inequality thesis, and the political economy approach. The distinction among bonding, bridging, and linking social capital probably helps close the debates between these three camps, which is rarely investigated in existing literatures. Moreover, although self-rated health is a frequently used health indicator in studies on the relationship between social capital and health, the interpersonal incomparability of this measure has been largely neglected. This study has two main objectives. Firstly, we aim to investigate the relationship between bonding, bridging, and linking social capital and self-rated health among Chinese adults. Secondly, we aim to improve the interpersonal comparability in self-rated health measurement. We use data from a nationally representative survey in China. Self-rated health was adjusted using the anchoring vignettes technique to improve comparability. Two-level ordinal logistic regression was performed to model the association between social capital and self-rated health at both individual and community levels. The interaction between residence and social capital was included to examine urban/rural disparities in the relationship. We found that most social capital indicators had a significant relationship with adjusted self-rated health of Chinese adults, but the relationships were mixed. Individual-level bonding, linking social capital, and community-level bridging social capital were positively related with health. Significant urban/rural disparities appeared in the association between community-level bonding, linking social capital, and adjusted self-rated health. For example, people living in communities with higher bonding social capital tended to report poorer adjusted self-rated health in urban areas, but the opposite tendency held for rural areas. Furthermore, the comparison between multivariate analyses results before and after the anchoring vignettes adjustment showed that the relationship between community-level social capital and self-rated health might be distorted if comparability problems are not addressed. In conclusion, the framework of bonding, bridging, and linking social capital helps us better understand the mechanism between social capital and self-rated health. Cultural and socioeconomic factors should be considered when designing health intervention policies using social capital. Moreover, we recommend that more studies improve the comparability of self-rated health by using the anchoring vignettes technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Chen
- Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Tianguang Meng
- Department of Political Science, School of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
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Glonti K, Gordeev VS, Goryakin Y, Reeves A, Stuckler D, McKee M, Roberts B. A systematic review on health resilience to economic crises. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0123117. [PMID: 25905629 PMCID: PMC4408106 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2014] [Accepted: 02/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The health effects of recent economic crises differ markedly by population group. The objective of this systematic review is to examine evidence from longitudinal studies on factors influencing resilience for any health outcome or health behaviour among the general population living in countries exposed to financial crises. METHODS We systematically reviewed studies from six electronic databases (EMBASE, Global Health, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science) which used quantitative longitudinal study designs and included: (i) exposure to an economic crisis; (ii) changes in health outcomes/behaviours over time; (iii) statistical tests of associations of health risk and/or protective factors with health outcomes/behaviours. The quality of the selected studies was appraised using the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. PRISMA reporting guidelines were followed. RESULTS From 14,584 retrieved records, 22 studies met the eligibility criteria. These studies were conducted across 10 countries in Asia, Europe and North America over the past two decades. Ten socio-demographic factors that increased or protected against health risk were identified: gender, age, education, marital status, household size, employment/occupation, income/ financial constraints, personal beliefs, health status, area of residence, and social relations. These studies addressed physical health, mortality, suicide and suicide attempts, mental health, and health behaviours. Women's mental health appeared more susceptible to crises than men's. Lower income levels were associated with greater increases in cardiovascular disease, mortality and worse mental health. Employment status was associated with changes in mental health. Associations with age, marital status, and education were less consistent, although higher education was associated with healthier behaviours. CONCLUSIONS Despite widespread rhetoric about the importance of resilience, there was a dearth of studies which operationalised resilience factors. Future conceptual and empirical research is needed to develop the epidemiology of resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketevan Glonti
- ECOHOST—The Centre of Health and Social Change, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vladimir S. Gordeev
- ECOHOST—The Centre of Health and Social Change, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yevgeniy Goryakin
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron Reeves
- Department of Sociology, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - David Stuckler
- ECOHOST—The Centre of Health and Social Change, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Sociology, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Martin McKee
- ECOHOST—The Centre of Health and Social Change, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bayard Roberts
- ECOHOST—The Centre of Health and Social Change, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Glonti K, Gordeev VS, Goryakin Y, Reeves A, Stuckler D, McKee M, Roberts B. A systematic review on health resilience to economic crises. PLoS One 2015. [PMID: 25905629 DOI: 10.1371/jornal.pone.0123117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The health effects of recent economic crises differ markedly by population group. The objective of this systematic review is to examine evidence from longitudinal studies on factors influencing resilience for any health outcome or health behaviour among the general population living in countries exposed to financial crises. METHODS We systematically reviewed studies from six electronic databases (EMBASE, Global Health, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science) which used quantitative longitudinal study designs and included: (i) exposure to an economic crisis; (ii) changes in health outcomes/behaviours over time; (iii) statistical tests of associations of health risk and/or protective factors with health outcomes/behaviours. The quality of the selected studies was appraised using the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. PRISMA reporting guidelines were followed. RESULTS From 14,584 retrieved records, 22 studies met the eligibility criteria. These studies were conducted across 10 countries in Asia, Europe and North America over the past two decades. Ten socio-demographic factors that increased or protected against health risk were identified: gender, age, education, marital status, household size, employment/occupation, income/ financial constraints, personal beliefs, health status, area of residence, and social relations. These studies addressed physical health, mortality, suicide and suicide attempts, mental health, and health behaviours. Women's mental health appeared more susceptible to crises than men's. Lower income levels were associated with greater increases in cardiovascular disease, mortality and worse mental health. Employment status was associated with changes in mental health. Associations with age, marital status, and education were less consistent, although higher education was associated with healthier behaviours. CONCLUSIONS Despite widespread rhetoric about the importance of resilience, there was a dearth of studies which operationalised resilience factors. Future conceptual and empirical research is needed to develop the epidemiology of resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketevan Glonti
- ECOHOST-The Centre of Health and Social Change, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vladimir S Gordeev
- ECOHOST-The Centre of Health and Social Change, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yevgeniy Goryakin
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron Reeves
- Department of Sociology, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - David Stuckler
- ECOHOST-The Centre of Health and Social Change, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Department of Sociology, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Martin McKee
- ECOHOST-The Centre of Health and Social Change, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bayard Roberts
- ECOHOST-The Centre of Health and Social Change, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Goryakin Y, Suhrcke M, Roberts B, McKee M. Mental health inequalities in 9 former Soviet Union countries: evidence from the previous decade. Soc Sci Med 2014; 124:142-51. [PMID: 25461871 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
In the previous two decades, countries of the former Soviet Union underwent substantive economic and social changes. While there has been some limited evidence on the relationship between socioeconomic well-being and mental health in the developing and transitional economies, the evidence on economic inequalities in mental health has so far been scarce. In this paper, we analyse two unique datasets collected in 2001 (N = 18,428) and in 2010 (N = 17,998) containing data on 9 countries of the former Soviet Union, exploring how mental health inequalities have changed between 2001 and 2010. Using regression analysis, as well as the indirect standardization approach, we found that mental health appears to have substantially improved in most studied countries during the past decade. Specifically, both the proportion of people with poor mental health, as well as wealth-related inequalities in poor mental health, decreased in almost all countries, except Georgia. Hence, we did not find evidence of a trade-off between changes in average and distributional mental health indicators between 2001 and 2010. Our findings give ground for optimism that at least on these measures, the most difficult times associated with the transition to a market economy in this region may be coming to an end.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yevgeniy Goryakin
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
| | - Marc Suhrcke
- Centre for Health Economics, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Bayard Roberts
- European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition, Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 5-17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH, UK
| | - Martin McKee
- European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition, Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 5-17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH, UK
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Siddiqui F, Lindblad U, Bennet L. Physical inactivity is strongly associated with anxiety and depression in Iraqi immigrants to Sweden: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2014; 14:502. [PMID: 24884440 PMCID: PMC4049384 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2013] [Accepted: 05/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Increasing evidence on associations between mental health and chronic diseases like cardio-vascular disease and diabetes together with the fact that little is known about the prevalence of anxiety/depression and associated risk factors among Iraqi immigrants to Sweden, warrants a study in this group. The aim was to study the prevalence of anxiety and depression in immigrants from Iraq compared to native Swedes and compare socioeconomic and lifestyle-related factors associated with these conditions. Method A population-based, cross-sectional study of residents of Malmö, Sweden, aged 30–75 years, born in Iraq or Sweden. The overall response rate was 49% for Iraqis and 32% for Swedes. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Associations were studied using multivariate logistic regression models. The outcome was odds of depression and/or anxiety. Results Compared to Swedes (n = 634), anxiety was three times as prevalent (52.6 vs. 16.3%, p < 0.001) and depression five times as prevalent (16.3 vs. 3.1%, p < 0.001) in Iraqi immigrants (n = 1255). Iraqis were three times more likely to be anxious and/or depressed compared to Swedes (odds ratio (OR) 3.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.06-4.41). Among Iraqis, physical inactivity (<150 min/week) (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.49-2.69), economic insecurity (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.56-3.01), inability to trust people (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.28-2.39) and smoking (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.02-2.01), were strongly associated with anxiety/depression. Among Swedes, living alone (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.36-3.25) and economic insecurity (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.38-4.12) showed the strongest associations with anxiety/depression. Country of birth modified the effect of physical inactivity (Pinteraction =0.058) as well as of marital status (Pinteraction =0.001). Conclusion Our study indicates that economic insecurity has a major impact on poor mental health irrespective of ethnic background but that physical inactivity may be more strongly associated with anxiety/depression in immigrants from the Middle East compared to native Swedes. Preventive actions emphasizing increased physical activity may reduce the risk of poor mental health in immigrants from the Middle East, however intervention studies are warranted to test this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Louise Bennet
- Center for Primary Health Care Research, Region Skåne and Lund University, Malmo, Sweden.
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