Economic Recession and Mental Health Distress: Does Age Matter?

Abstract

IntroductionThe association between economic crises and mental health problems can be attributed to a number of factors. Among these, age seems to be an important determinant.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess whether mental health of the Portuguese population following the onset of the 2008 recession, differs by age groups.MethodsA follow-up study (2015) on the population aged 18 to > 65 years old, using the National Mental Health Survey (n = 911). The age-group prevalence of mental health distress assessed by the ten-item Kessler's Psychological Distress Scale (K10) was calculated using Chi2 statistics and mental distress as a categorical variable (P < 0.05).ResultsMean mental distress score differed significantly according to age group, χ2(3) = 10.684, P < = 0.05. The results showed that the older groups (50–64 and 65 = years old) were more frequently under mental distress (17–19%) compared to younger people (18–49 = years old), which were less likely to report being distressed (8–12%).ConclusionsAge seems to be an important determinant of distress levels during the economic crisis in Portugal. Older adults reported to be more distressed compared to younger individuals. There are several hypotheses for a differential expression of psychological distress between age groups such as working status and retirement, which can express differential access to coping resources under such contextual negative pressure of economic recession. Further research on age groups is thus needed to better understand how recession generates adverse effects on mental well-being.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

“Quando a saúde ficou a perder ou a crise passou ao lado” : Um olhar sociológico sobre os efeitos da crise e da austeridade na saúde autopercebida dos mais velhos

“…Estas práticas familiares, e a interligação destas, estão, assim, na génese dos problemas reportados ao nível da saúde mental dos mais velhos, o que vai ao encontro dos resultados de outros estudos (ex. : Cardoso et al, 2015 ;Frasquilho et al, 2017).…”

“…A escassa investigação sobre os efeitos da crise e da austeridade na saúde dos portugueses destaca a sua gravidade, em especial no grupo dos mais velhos e dos desempregados, a qual se viu traduzida num aumento muito significativo das consultas de psiquiatria (Cardoso et al, 2015). Num estudo mais recente, as conclusões apontam também que foram os portugueses mais velhos -e não os mais jovens -a sentir um maior sofrimento psicológico, por força da adversidade macroeconómica (Frasquilho et al, 2017).…”