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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

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01-09-2019 | Mood Disorders | Original Paper

Inequality within a community at the neighborhood level and the incidence of mood disorders in Japan: a multilevel analysis

Authors: Misuzu Fujita, Kengo Nagashima, Sho Takahashi, Akira Hata

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 9/2019

Abstract

Purpose

This study analyzes whether income inequality within a community at the neighborhood level is associated with incidence of mood disorder in Japan.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed using the data of 116,658 National Health Insurance beneficiaries aged between 20 and 69 in Chiba City, Japan. To evaluate income inequality within a community, the Gini coefficient within a 30-min walking distance from an individual’s residence was calculated using income distribution estimated by the National Census and the Housing and Land Survey 2013. Incidence of mood disorder was determined through insurance claims submitted from April 1, 2013, to March 31, 2016. A multilevel logistic analysis with three levels—the individual, household, and residential district—was performed to evaluate the association.

Results

Income inequality within a community at the neighborhood level was not associated with incidence of mood disorder in the models with and without equivalent household income (p for trend = 0.856 and 0.947, respectively). No difference was observed in the impact of the Gini coefficient among income levels, lower versus higher income groups (p for interaction between Gini coefficient and household income = 0.967). In contrast, lower equivalent income at the household level was significantly associated with higher incidence of mood disorder (p for trend < 0.001).

Conclusions

While we confirmed that lower income at the household level itself had an adverse effect on mental health, income inequality within a community at the neighborhood level was not a significant factor for incidence of mood disorder in Japan.

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Title: Inequality within a community at the neighborhood level and the incidence of mood disorders in Japan: a multilevel analysis
Authors: Misuzu Fujita
Kengo Nagashima
Sho Takahashi
Akira Hata
Publication date: 01-09-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Mood Disorders
Affective Disorder
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 9/2019
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01687-w

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Inequality within a community at the neighborhood level and the incidence of mood disorders in Japan: a multilevel analysis

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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