Am J Epidemiol 2003; 157:98-112.
Copyright © 2003 by Johns
Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
META-ANALYSIS |
Socioeconomic Inequalities in Depression: A Meta-Analysis
1 Health Systems Research, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
2 Department of Mental Hygiene, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
3 Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
4 Faculty of Psychology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium.
5 Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Low socioeconomic status (SES) is generally associated with high psychiatric morbidity, more disability, and poorer access to health care. Among psychiatric disorders, depression exhibits a more controversial association with SES. The authors carried out a meta-analysis to evaluate the magnitude, shape, and modifiers of such an association. The search found 51 prevalence studies, five incidence studies, and four persistence studies meeting the criteria. A random effects model was applied to the odds ratio of the lowest SES group compared with the highest, and meta-regression was used to assess the dose-response relation and the influence of covariates. Results indicated that low-SES individuals had higher odds of being depressed (odds ratio = 1.81, p < 0.001), but the odds of a new episode (odds ratio = 1.24, p = 0.004) were lower than the odds of persisting depression (odds ratio = 2.06, p < 0.001). A dose-response relation was observed for education and income. Socioeconomic inequality in depression is heterogeneous and varies according to the way psychiatric disorder is measured, to the definition and measurement of SES, and to contextual features such as region and time. Nonetheless, the authors found compelling evidence for socioeconomic inequality in depression. Strategies for tackling inequality in depression are needed, especially in relation to the course of the disorder.
depression; meta-analysis; socioeconomic factors
Abbreviations: Abbreviations: DSM, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; SES, socioeconomic status.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  B. Mezuk, W. W. Eaton, S. H. Golden, and Y. Ding The Influence of Educational Attainment on Depression and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Am J Public Health, August 1, 2008; 98(8): 1480 - 1485. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 V. Vaccarino, R. Lampert, J. D. Bremner, F. Lee, S. Su, C. Maisano, N. V. Murrah, L. Jones, F. Jawed, N. Afzal, et al. Depressive Symptoms and Heart Rate Variability: Evidence for a Shared Genetic Substrate in a Study of Twins Psychosom Med, July 1, 2008; 70(6): 628 - 636. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. A. Shively, T. C. Register, M. R. Adams, D. L. Golden, S. L. Willard, and T. B. Clarkson Depressive Behavior and Coronary Artery Atherogenesis in Adult Female Cynomolgus Monkeys Psychosom Med, July 1, 2008; 70(6): 637 - 645. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. Netterstrom, N. Conrad, P. Bech, P. Fink, O. Olsen, R. Rugulies, and S. Stansfeld The Relation between Work-related Psychosocial Factors and the Development of Depression Epidemiol. Rev., June 27, 2008; (2008) mxn004v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N Wege, N Dragano, R Erbel, K-H Jockel, S Moebus, A Stang, and J Siegrist When does work stress hurt? Testing the interaction with socioeconomic position in the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study J. Epidemiol. Community Health, April 1, 2008; 62(4): 338 - 341. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. S. Everhart, B. H. Fiese, and J. M. Smyth A Cumulative Risk Model Predicting Caregiver Quality of Life in Pediatric Asthma J. Pediatr. Psychol., March 20, 2008; (2008) jsn028v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M Virtanen, S Koskinen, M Kivimaki, T Honkonen, J Vahtera, K Ahola, and J Lonnqvist Contribution of non-work and work-related risk factors to the association between income and mental disorders in a working population: the Health 2000 Study Occup. Environ. Med., March 1, 2008; 65(3): 171 - 178. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Melchior, T. E. Moffitt, B. J. Milne, R. Poulton, and A. Caspi Why Do Children from Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Families Suffer from Poor Health When They Reach Adulthood? A Life-Course Study Am. J. Epidemiol., October 15, 2007; 166(8): 966 - 974. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. SMILEY, S.-A. COOPER, J. FINLAYSON, A. JACKSON, L. ALLAN, D. MANTRY, C. McGROTHER, A. McCONNACHIE, and J. MORRISON Incidence and predictors of mental ill-health in adults with intellectual disabilities: Prospective study The British Journal of Psychiatry, October 1, 2007; 191(4): 313 - 319. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. J. Gianaros, J. A. Horenstein, S. Cohen, K. A. Matthews, S. M. Brown, J. D. Flory, H. D. Critchley, S. B. Manuck, and A. R. Hariri Perigenual anterior cingulate morphology covaries with perceived social standing Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci, September 1, 2007; 2(3): 161 - 173. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. M. Friedman, G. D. Love, M. A. Rosenkranz, H. L. Urry, R. J. Davidson, B. H. Singer, and C. D. Ryff Socioeconomic Status Predicts Objective and Subjective Sleep Quality in Aging Women Psychosom Med, September 1, 2007; 69(7): 682 - 691. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. WEICH, I. NAZARETH, L. MORGAN, and M. KING Treatment of depression in primary care: Socio-economic status, clinical need and receipt of treatment The British Journal of Psychiatry, August 1, 2007; 191(2): 164 - 169. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. Laaksonen, P. Martikainen, E. Lahelma, T. Lallukka, O. Rahkonen, J. Head, and M. Marmot Socioeconomic circumstances and common mental disorders among Finnish and British public sector employees: evidence from the Helsinki Health Study and the Whitehall II Study Int. J. Epidemiol., August 1, 2007; 36(4): 776 - 786. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Skapinakis Commentary: Socioeconomic position and common mental disorders: what do we need to know? Int. J. Epidemiol., August 1, 2007; 36(4): 786 - 788. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. D. Durden, T. D. Hill, and R. J. Angel Social demands, social supports, and psychological distress among low-income women Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, June 1, 2007; 24(3): 343 - 361. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Clark, B. Rodgers, T. Caldwell, C. Power, and S. Stansfeld Childhood and Adulthood Psychological Ill Health as Predictors of Midlife Affective and Anxiety Disorders: The 1958 British Birth Cohort Arch Gen Psychiatry, June 1, 2007; 64(6): 668 - 678. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Z. Bambauer, D. G. Safran, D. Ross-Degnan, F. Zhang, A. S. Adams, J. Gurwitz, M. Pierre-Jacques, and S. B. Soumerai Depression and Cost-Related Medication Nonadherence in Medicare Beneficiaries Arch Gen Psychiatry, May 1, 2007; 64(5): 602 - 608. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
V. LORANT, C. CROUX, S. WEICH, D. DELIEGE, J. MACKENBACH, and M. ANSSEAU Depression and socio-economic risk factors: 7-year longitudinal population study The British Journal of Psychiatry, April 1, 2007; 190(4): 293 - 298. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F Lotters, R-L Franche, S Hogg-Johnson, A Burdorf, and J D Pole The prognostic value of depressive symptoms, fear-avoidance, and self-efficacy for duration of lost-time benefits in workers with musculoskeletal disorders Occup. Environ. Med., December 1, 2006; 63(12): 794 - 801. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. E. Payne, C. F. Hybels, C. W. Bales, and D. C. Steffens Vascular Nutritional Correlates of Late-Life Depression Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, September 1, 2006; 14(9): 787 - 795. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Wieclaw, E. Agerbo, P. B. Mortensen, H. Burr, F. Tuchsen, and J. P. Bonde Work related violence and threats and the risk of depression and stress disorders. J. Epidemiol. Community Health, September 1, 2006; 60(9): 771 - 775. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Skapinakis, S. Weich, G. Lewis, N. Singleton, and R. Araya Socio-economic position and common mental disorders: Longitudinal study in the general population in the UK The British Journal of Psychiatry, August 1, 2006; 189(2): 109 - 117. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Steptoe and M. Marmot Psychosocial, Hemostatic, and Inflammatory Correlates of Delayed Poststress Blood Pressure Recovery Psychosom Med, July 1, 2006; 68(4): 531 - 537. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. J Zimmerman and J. F Bell Income inequality and physical and mental health: testing associations consistent with proposed causal pathways. J. Epidemiol. Community Health, June 1, 2006; 60(6): 513 - 521. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Rugulies, U. Bultmann, B. Aust, and H. Burr Psychosocial Work Environment and Incidence of Severe Depressive Symptoms: Prospective Findings from a 5-Year Follow-up of the Danish Work Environment Cohort Study Am. J. Epidemiol., May 15, 2006; 163(10): 877 - 887. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J Wieclaw, E Agerbo, P B Mortensen, and J P Bonde Risk of affective and stress related disorders among employees in human service professions. Occup. Environ. Med., May 1, 2006; 63(5): 314 - 319. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. BOBAK, H. PIKHART, A. PAJAK, R. KUBINOVA, S. MALYUTINA, H. SEBAKOVA, R. TOPOR-MADRY, Y. NIKITIN, and M. MARMOT Depressive symptoms in urban population samples in Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic The British Journal of Psychiatry, April 1, 2006; 188(4): 359 - 365. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. B. Loucks, L. M. Sullivan, L. J. Hayes, R. B. D'Agostino Sr., M. G. Larson, R. S. Vasan, E. J. Benjamin, and L. F. Berkman Association of Educational Level with Inflammatory Markers in the Framingham Offspring Study Am. J. Epidemiol., April 1, 2006; 163(7): 622 - 628. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Cohen, P. R. Houck, K. Szanto, M. A. Dew, S. E. Gilman, and C. F. Reynolds III Social Inequalities in Response to Antidepressant Treatment in Older Adults Arch Gen Psychiatry, January 1, 2006; 63(1): 50 - 56. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. C. Thurston, L. D. Kubzansky, I. Kawachi, and L. F. Berkman Do Depression and Anxiety Mediate the Link Between Educational Attainment and CHD? Psychosom Med, January 1, 2006; 68(1): 25 - 32. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. WEICH, L. TWIGG, and G. LEWIS Rural/non-rural differences in rates of common mental disorders in Britain: Prospective multilevel cohort study The British Journal of Psychiatry, January 1, 2006; 188(1): 51 - 57. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Chen, L. Wei, Z. Hu, X. Qin, J. R. M. Copeland, and H. Hemingway Depression in Older People in Rural China Arch Intern Med, September 26, 2005; 165(17): 2019 - 2025. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. Onder, B. W. J. H. Penninx, M. Cesari, S. Bandinelli, F. Lauretani, B. Bartali, A. M. Gori, M. Pahor, and L. Ferrucci Anemia Is Associated With Depression in Older Adults: Results From the InCHIANTI Study J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., September 1, 2005; 60(9): 1168 - 1172. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 I. M. Lesser, A. F. Leuchter, M. H. Trivedi, L. L. Davis, S. R. Wisniewski, G. K. Balasubramani, T. Petersen, D. Stegman, and A. J. Rush Characteristics of Insured and Noninsured Outpatients With Depression in STAR*D Psychiatr Serv, August 1, 2005; 56(8): 995 - 1004. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. WEICH, L. TWIGG, G. LEWIS, and K. JONES Geographical variation in rates of common mental disorders in Britain: prospective cohort study The British Journal of Psychiatry, July 1, 2005; 187(1): 29 - 34. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
V. LORANT, A. E. KUNST, M. HUISMAN, G. COSTA, J. MACKENBACH, and EU Working Group on Socio-Economic Inequalities in Socio-economic inequalities in suicide: a European comparative study The British Journal of Psychiatry, July 1, 2005; 187(1): 49 - 54. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Weich Absence of spatial variation in rates of the common mental disorders J. Epidemiol. Community Health, April 1, 2005; 59(4): 254 - 257. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. E. Simon, A. Steptoe, and J. Wardle Socioeconomic Status Differences in Coping With a Stressful Medical Procedure Psychosom Med, March 1, 2005; 67(2): 270 - 276. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Lin, Y. Chen, and I. McDowell Increased risk of depression in COPD patients with higher education and income Chronic Respiratory Disease, January 1, 2005; 2(1): 13 - 19. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. W. J. Wainwright and P. G. Surtees Area and individual circumstances and mood disorder prevalence The British Journal of Psychiatry, September 1, 2004; 185(3): 227 - 232. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Muntaner, W. W. Eaton, R. Miech, and P. O'Campo Socioeconomic Position and Major Mental Disorders Epidemiol. Rev., July 1, 2004; 26(1): 53 - 62. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 H. L. Burdette, R. C. Whitaker, R. S. Kahn, and J. Harvey-Berino Association of Maternal Obesity and Depressive Symptoms With Television-Viewing Time in Low-Income Preschool Children Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, September 1, 2003; 157(9): 894 - 899. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. E Gilman Review: there is marked socioeconomic inequality in persistent depression Evid. Based Ment. Health, August 1, 2003; 6(3): 75 - 75. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 OTHER ARTICLES NOTED (24 Jan 03 to 18 Apr 03) Evid. Based Nurs., July 1, 2003; 6(3): e1 - 12. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|