The Combined Association of Psychological Distress and Socioeconomic Status With All-Cause Mortality

Urban refugees face several challenges which affect their emotional, social, and psychological well-being. This study utilised a quantitative cross-sectional design. The study assessed the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and psychological distress from a gender perspective among Rwandan refugees in Lusaka, Zambia. Two hundred and sixty-seven refugees between 18 and 65(M=33.99 years) participated in the study. The sample comprised men (47.9%) and women (52.1%) who were selected from Lusaka townships using purposive and convenience sampling techniques. SES was measured by assessing participants’ educational attainment, occupational status or employment, income, and financial support, whereas subjective psychological distress was evaluated using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Framed within the feminist and the ecological systems perspectives, the study established an association between SES and psychological distress. The proportions of female participants in the lower education and unemployment categories and lower-income bracket were considerably higher than males in the same category. Similarly, the study revealed that the proportion of females (27%) with severe depression was higher than males (19%). However, the gender difference was negligible with other subscales such as the somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, and social dysfunction. Bivariate associations revealed well-established gender differences, where women with low education and financial support reported higher levels of psychological distress. Multivariate analysis revealed that employment predicted a lower level of psychological distress in both men and women. The findings highlight that refugees’ access to employment is an essential factor in determining psychological well-being. Well-defined intervention strategies by government and humanitarian bodies are critical and should aim to empower refugees towards easy access to formal and informal labour market opportunities.

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Mortality in Edentulous Patients: A Registry-Based Cohort Study in Sweden Comparing 8463 Patients Treated with Removable Dentures or Implant-Supported Dental Prostheses

International Journal of Dentistry ◽

10.1155/2021/9919732 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Jan Kowar ◽

Victoria Stenport ◽

Mats Nilsson ◽

Torsten Jemt

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Dental Implants ◽

Low Socioeconomic Status ◽

Social Insurance ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Reference Population ◽

Logistic Analysis ◽

Dental Prostheses ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Edentulous Patients

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to investigate if edentulism is associated with all-cause mortality. The aims were to analyze the association between age, socioeconomic factors, and mortality in edentulous patients treated with either removable dentures or implant-supported prostheses. Methods. All patients who became edentulous according to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (SSIA) between 2009 and 2013 (N = 8463) were analyzed regarding prosthetic treatment, age, gender, and socioeconomic status. The patients were divided into two groups, depending on whether they were treated with dental implants (implant group; IG) or with conventional removable dentures (denture group; DG). Data on mortality for all included individuals were obtained from the Swedish National Cause of Death Register and compared to a reference population. Cumulative survival rates were calculated, and a multivariable regression analysis for the included variables was performed. Results. Between 2009 and 2018, 2192 of the patients (25.9%) were treated with implant-supported dental prostheses (IG) and 6271 patients (74.1%) were treated with removable dentures without support of dental implants (DG). Altogether 2526 patients (30%) died until December 31, 2019, and the overall mortality was significantly higher for the DG compared to the IG during follow-up ( p < 0.001 ). Younger edentulous patients (≤59 years) presented a higher mortality than the reference population, while implant patients over 79 years of age demonstrated a lower mortality. The final results from the multivariable logistic analysis showed that lower equalized disposable income (EDI) and the choice of conventional removable dentures are the most important factors for increased patient mortality ( p < 0.001 ). Conclusions. Edentulous patients have an overall higher mortality compared to a reference population. Low socioeconomic status increases all-cause mortality. Individuals treated with dental implants show statistically significant lower 10-year mortality compared to patients treated with conventional removable dentures, regardless of socioeconomic status.

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Socioeconomic disparities in psychological distress in a nationally representative sample of Japanese adolescents: A time trend study

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0004867416664142 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 51 (3) ◽

pp. 278-286 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yuko Kachi ◽

Aya Abe ◽

Emiko Ando ◽

Tomoyuki Kawada

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Household Income ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Representative Sample ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Japanese Adolescents ◽

Nationally Representative

Objective: Socioeconomic status as a determinant of mental health problems has received scant attention in Japan, which has long been considered an egalitarian society. This study examined the association between socioeconomic status and psychological distress and its trends over 6 years among Japanese adolescents. Methods: We used data from a nationally representative sample of 9491 adolescents aged 12–18 years who participated in three repeated cross-sectional surveys between 2007 and 2013. The K6 scale was used to assess psychological distress. Socioeconomic status indicators included household income, parental education, parental working status and household structure. Results: Psychological distress prevalence decreased significantly from 2007 (10.7%) to 2013 (7.6%). However, the socioeconomic status patterns of psychological distress were consistent through the study period. Adolescents living in both lower (odds ratio = 1.61; 95% confidence interval = [1.27, 2.05]) and higher income households (odds ratio = 1.30; 95% confidence interval = [1.03, 1.62]) were more likely to report psychological distress than their middle-income counterparts. Adolescents with low household income were more likely to feel stress from interpersonal relationships and less likely to have help-seeking behaviors, while those with high household income were more likely to feel stress about school achievement. Psychological distress was also associated with parental poor education and single parenthood. Conclusions: Socioeconomic status disparities in adolescent psychological distress were evident and consistent during the 6-year period. There is a unique U-shaped relationship between household income and psychological distress among adolescents in Japan, unlike those from other countries. However, the underlying mechanisms may differ by income status. Future prevention efforts should consider socioeconomic status as a determinant of adolescent mental health problems.

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