Citation

Taylor AW, Chittleborough C, Gill TK, Winefield H, Baum F, Hiller JE, Goldney RD, Tucker G, Hugo G. Soc. Psychiatry Psychiatr. Epidemiol. 2012; 47(3): 465-473.

Affiliation

Population Research and Outcome Studies, The University of Adelaide, Level 3, 122 Frome Street, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia, anne.taylor@adelaide.edu.au.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00127-011-0354-z

PMID

21350810

PMCID

PMC3279646

Abstract

PURPOSE: Psychological distress encompasses anxiety and depression with the previous studies showing that psychological distress is unequally distributed across population groups. This paper explores the mechanisms and processes which may affect the distribution of psychological distress, including a range of individual and community level socioeconomic determinants. METHODS: Representative cross-sectional data was collected for respondents aged 16+ from July 2008 to June 2009, as a part of the South Australian Monitoring and Surveillance System (SAMSS) using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI). Univariate and multivariate analyses (n = 5,763) were conducted to investigate the variables that were associated with psychological distress. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of psychological distress was 8.9%. In the multivariate model, females, those aged 16-49, respondents single with children, unable to work or unemployed, with a poorer family financial situation, earning $20,000 or less, feeling safe in their home some or none of the time, feeling as though they have less then total control over life decisions and sometimes experiencing problems with transport, were significantly more likely to experience psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS: This paper has demonstrated the relationship between low-income, financial pressure, less than optimal safety and control, and high-psychological distress. It is important that the groups highlighted as vulnerable be targeted in policy, planning, and health promotion and prevention campaigns.

Language: en