Social fragmentation and psychological distress: a geospatial study and survey in rural Australia

Objective: Immigrants’ mental health is a growing public health concern. Neighbourhood characteristics in the host society may contribute to the poor mental health observed among immigrants. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between neighbourhood-level social fragmentation and socioeconomic characteristics with psychological distress among immigrants and non-immigrants living in Australia. Methodology: We conducted cross-sectional secondary data analysis of 228,039 participants from the Sax Institute’s 45 and Up Study, with psychological distress measured with the Kessler 10 (K10) and area-level social fragmentation and economic advantage/disadvantage measured at the statistical area level 1 (areas containing approximately 400 people). Multilevel logistic models were used to examine the extent to which differences across the least and most fragmented and economic advantage/disadvantage neighbourhoods contributed to the prevalence of high psychological distress (K10 score ⩾ 22). Results: Immigrants accounted for about 23% of the sample. Slightly more immigrants (34.8%) compared to non-immigrants (32.9%) lived in fragmented areas. Although immigrants were over represented in areas with socioeconomic advantage (40% vs 33.9%), the prevalence of high psychological distress in neighbourhoods with higher social fragmentation and socioeconomic disadvantage was higher in immigrants than non-immigrants. Immigrants had 17% (95% confidence interval = [12%, 22%]) higher odds of having high psychological distress compared to non-immigrants. There was no evidence of an interaction between social fragmentation or socioeconomic disadvantage and immigrant status. Living in fragmented or socioeconomically disadvantaged areas was associated with higher psychological distress among immigrants and non-immigrants. English as a second language and low annual income were significant predictors of psychological distress in immigrants over and above area-level characteristics. Conclusion: Immigrants are vulnerable to mental health issues, but the characteristics of the area they live in are also important. Helping immigrants settle into well-integrated and economically advantaged areas may decrease the possibility of mental health issues.

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The prevalence of psychological distress and relationships with social fragmentation and isolation: a geospatial study and survey in rural Australia

10.1101/2020.11.12.20230771 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Victor Forcadela ◽

Nasser Bagheri ◽

Claudia Slimings

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Spatial Autocorrelation ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Rural Setting ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

High Psychological Distress ◽

Social Fragmentation

AbstractPurposeThere is limited data on the effects of social isolation on rural mental health. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of psychological distress in a rural area of Australia while exploring the association between psychological distress and social isolation at the individual and area level.MethodsAn online cross-sectional survey of 408 adult volunteers was conducted across rural south-eastern New South Wales from October 2019 to April 2020. The Kessler 10 was used to measure psychological distress, while area-level social fragmentation was assessed using the family (ANSFIfam) and mobility (ANSFImob) components of the Australian Neighbourhood Social Fragmentation Index. The number of different occupations of people known socially was used to assess individual-level social isolation. Spatial analysis was performed to identify any spatial autocorrelation.ResultsThe prevalence of high psychological distress in the sample was 29%. Using logistic regression models, there was little evidence of a relationship between high psychological distress and ANSFIfam (odds ratio (OR)=0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.93–1.03), or ANSFImob (OR=1.04, 95%CI=0.99–1.09). High psychological distress also did not appear to be associated with number of occupations known socially (OR=1.00, 95%CI=0.99–1.00). There was no significant spatial autocorrelation of psychological distress or social fragmentation at the postal area level.ConclusionThe results suggest that social fragmentation or isolation may not have a significant effect on psychological distress in a rural setting. Nevertheless, further investigation of the effects of social isolation on mental health in rural areas is warranted.

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Psychological distress in rural Australia: regional variation and the role of family functioning and social support

Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1007/s10389-014-0640-9 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 481-488 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Peter Butterworth ◽

Tonelle E. Handley ◽

Terry J. Lewin ◽

Prasuna Reddy ◽

Brian J. Kelly

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Family Functioning ◽

Regional Variation ◽

Rural Australia

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Interpersonal Stress and Poor Health

European Psychologist ◽

10.1027/1016-9040/a000003 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 3-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Mette M. Aanes ◽

Maurice B. Mittelmark ◽

Jørn Hetland

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Social Relationships ◽

Indirect Effects ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Somatic Symptoms ◽

Total Effect ◽

Subjective Feeling ◽

Interpersonal Stress ◽

The Relationship

This paper investigated whether the lack of social connectedness, as measured by the subjective feeling of loneliness, mediates the well-known relationship between interpersonal stress and psychological distress. Furthermore, a relationship between interpersonal stress and somatic symptoms was hypothesized. The study sample included 3,268 women and 3,220 men in Western Norway. The main findings were that interpersonal stress was significantly related to psychological distress as well as to somatic symptoms, both directly and indirectly via paths mediated by loneliness. The size of the indirect effects varied, suggesting that the importance of loneliness as a possible mediator differs for depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and somatic symptoms. In the case of depressive symptoms, more than 75% of the total effect was mediated through loneliness, while in the case of somatic symptoms just over 40% of the total effect was mediated through loneliness. This study supports the hypotheses that social connectedness mediates a relationship between interpersonal stress and psychological distress. The study also provides the first link between interpersonal stress, as measured by the Bergen Social Relationships Scale, and somatic symptoms, extending earlier research on the relationship between interpersonal stress and psychological distress.

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Associations Between Dutch LGBT Hate Crime Experience, Well-Being, Trust in the Police and Future Hate Crime Reporting

Social Psychology ◽

10.1027/1864-9335/a000409 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (3) ◽

pp. 171-182

Author(s):

Allard R. Feddes ◽

Kai J. Jonas

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Hate Crime ◽

Well Being ◽

Crime Victims ◽

Crime Reporting ◽

Survey Study ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Building Trust ◽

Reporting Intentions

Abstract. LGBT-related hate crime is a conscious act of aggression against an LGBT citizen. The present research investigates associations between hate crime, psychological well-being, trust in the police and intentions to report future experiences of hate crime. A survey study was conducted among 391 LGBT respondents in the Netherlands. Sixteen percent experienced hate crime in the 12 months prior. Compared to non-victims, victims had significant lower psychological well-being, lower trust in the police and lower intentions to report future hate crime. Hate crime experience and lower psychological well-being were associated with lower reporting intentions through lower trust in the police. Helping hate crime victims cope with psychological distress in combination with building trust in the police could positively influence future reporting.

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