Educational Attainment Inequalities in Depressive Symptoms in More Than 100 000 Individuals in Europe

Abstract

Introduction Increasing educational attainment (EA) could decrease the occurrence of depression. We investigated the relationship between EA and depressive symptoms in older individuals across four European regions. Objectives 1) examine association between EA and depressive symptoms 2) determine, if there is an upper limit to this association 3) explore regional and demographic differences within this relationship across Europe Methods We studied 108 315 Europeans (54 % women, median age 63 years old) in Europe assessing EA and depressive symptoms. Logistic regression estimated the association between EA and depressive symptoms, adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related factors; testing for sex/age/region and education interactions. Results Higher EA was associated with lower odds of depressive symptoms, independent of sociodemographic and health-related factors. A threshold of the lowest odds of depressive symptoms was detected at the first stage of tertiary education (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.55-0.65; p<0.001; relative to no education). Central and Eastern Europe showed the strongest association (OR for high vs. low education 0.37; 95% CI 0.33-0.40; p<0.001) and Scandinavia the weakest (OR for high vs. low education 0.69; 95% CI 0.60-0.80; p<0.001). The association was strongest amongst younger individuals. There was a sex and education interaction only within Central and Eastern Europe. Conclusions Level of EA is reflected in later-life depressive symptoms, suggesting that supporting individuals in achieving EA, and considering those with lower EA at increased risk for depression, could lead to decreased burden of depression across the life-course. Further educational support in Central and Eastern Europe may decrease the higher burden of depressive symptoms in women. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Does education matter? Income inequality and mental health among young adult men

“…This study also confirmed that men's educational attainment was inversely related to depression, which is consistent with previous research [13,14,[16][17][18]. However, a large body of studies have primarily addressed the relationship among adult women.…”

“…Male participants in the National Longitudinal Study of Youth-79 who attained any level of higher education had lower odds of depression at age 40 than those who had not [14]. In a sample of European adults, participants who attained less than a primary education had the highest prevalence of depression (45%), while those who attained tertiary or higher education had the lowest prevalence of depression (19%) [13]. In most countries, these findings were true for men and women, but in Central and Eastern Europe, education was only significantly associated with depression levels among men [13].…”

“…Attaining a higher level of education may also be inversely associated with depression symptoms, perhaps it allows people access to more economic resources and social capital that lessen their risk for depression [13][14][15][16][17][18]. Male participants in the National Longitudinal Study of Youth-79 who attained any level of higher education had lower odds of depression at age 40 than those who had not [14].…”

“…In a sample of European adults, participants who attained less than a primary education had the highest prevalence of depression (45%), while those who attained tertiary or higher education had the lowest prevalence of depression (19%) [13]. In most countries, these findings were true for men and women, but in Central and Eastern Europe, education was only significantly associated with depression levels among men [13]. Further, in a sample of monozygotic twins, twins with a college degree had significantly fewer depressive symptoms than twins who had not completed high school [16].…”

How employment status affects adult men's depression over time: a comparative study of educational attainment

“…As women are more likely to experience depression in their lifetime as compared to men, depression among men remains understudied and underreported [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Socioeconomic factors, such as unemployment or educational attainment, have been posited as important factors associated with depression rates, especially among men [7][8][9][10][11][12]. However, many studies have utilized cross-sectional data, and fewer have examined the relationship longitudinally, e.g., [13][14][15].…”