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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2009

Open Access 01-12-2009 | Research article

Mental health symptoms in relation to socio-economic conditions and lifestyle factors – a population-based study in Sweden

Authors: Anu Molarius, Kenneth Berglund, Charli Eriksson, Hans G Eriksson, Margareta Lindén-Boström, Eva Nordström, Carina Persson, Lotta Sahlqvist, Bengt Starrin, Berit Ydreborg

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2009

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Abstract

Background

Poor mental health has large social and economic consequences both for the individual and society. In Sweden, the prevalence of mental health symptoms has increased since the beginning of the 1990s. There is a need for a better understanding of the area for planning preventive activities and health care.

Methods

The study is based on a postal survey questionnaire sent to a random sample of men and women aged 18–84 years in 2004. The overall response rate was 64%. The area investigated covers 55 municipalities with about one million inhabitants in central part of Sweden. The study population includes 42,448 respondents. Mental health was measured with self-reported symptoms of anxiety/depression (EQ-5D, 5th question). The association between socio-economic conditions, lifestyle factors and mental health symptoms was investigated using multivariate multinomial logistic regression models.

Results

About 40% of women and 30% of men reported that they were moderately or extremely anxious or depressed. Younger subjects reported poorer mental health than older subjects, the best mental health was found at ages 65–74 years.
Factors that were strongly and independently related to mental health symptoms were poor social support, experiences of being belittled, employment status (receiving a disability pension and unemployment), economic hardship, critical life events, and functional disability. A strong association was also found between how burdensome domestic work was experienced and anxiety/depression. This was true for both men and women. Educational level was not associated with mental health symptoms.
Of lifestyle factors, physical inactivity, underweight and risk consumption of alcohol were independently associated with mental health symptoms.

Conclusion

Our results support the notion that a ground for good mental health includes balance in social relations, in domestic work and in employment as well as in personal economy both among men and women. In addition, physical inactivity, underweight and risk consumption of alcohol are associated with mental health symptoms independent of socio-economic factors.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Mental health symptoms in relation to socio-economic conditions and lifestyle factors – a population-based study in Sweden
Authors
Anu Molarius
Kenneth Berglund
Charli Eriksson
Hans G Eriksson
Margareta Lindén-Boström
Eva Nordström
Carina Persson
Lotta Sahlqvist
Bengt Starrin
Berit Ydreborg
Publication date
01-12-2009
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2009
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-9-302

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