Study: Income and psychological distress

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Over the 12-year period from 1994/1995 to 2006/2007, relatively more people in lower-income households experienced episodes of high psychological distress than those in higher-income households.

This difference was partly related to the greater prevalence of stressors in the lives of lower-income individuals, such as job strain, financial problems, personal stress, and problems with relationships, neighbourhoods or children. Low-household income is a marker for difficult material and psychosocial life situations.

Distress is a psychological state characterized by anxiety or a depressed mood, and may indicate more serious disorders such as clinical depression.

Among a representative sample of people aged 18 to 75 who had low psychological distress in 1994/1995, overall, 11% experienced an episode of high distress in the ensuing 12 years. However, the proportion of lower-income men and women experiencing episodes of high distress was greater than their more affluent counterparts.

Earlier research has suggested that the poorer mental health of lower-income individuals may be related to the higher prevalence of stressors to which they are exposed, and their lack of coping support.

The new findings showed that stressors play an important role in the relationship between household income and psychological distress. When the impact of stressors was taken into account, the direct association between income and the subsequent risk of experiencing an episode of distress was reduced, since lower income is itself associated with more stressors. Statistically, after taking explicit account of stressors, the direct association between income and subsequent episodes of distress remained significant for lower-income men, but not for lower-income women.

For both sexes, the stressors associated with experiencing an episode of psychological distress were job strain, financial problems, personal stress and relationship problems. For men, neighbourhood problems were also a factor. For women, problems with children and recent negative life events, such as someone in the family being demoted at work or failing an education program, were important.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3225.

The article, "Income and psychological distress: The role of the social environment," which is part of today's Health Reports, Vol. 20, no. 1 (82-003-XWE, free) online release, is now available.

For more information about this article, contact Heather M. Orpana (613-951-1650; heather.orpana@statcan.gc.ca), Health Information and Research Division.

Today's online release of Health Reports also includes the article "Evaluation of the coverage of linked Canadian Community Health Survey and hospital inpatient records." This article calculates coverage rates for linked Canadian Community Health Survey and Health Person-oriented Information records, and identifies characteristics of survey respondents who were less likely to be in the linked file. For more information, contact Michelle Rotermann (613-951-3166; michelle.rotermann@statcan.gc.ca), Health Information and Research Division.

For more information about Health Reports, contact Christine Wright (613-951-1765; christine.wright@statcan.gc.ca), Health Information and Research Division.

Study: Income and psychological distress

Over the 12-year period from 1994/1995 to 2006/2007, relatively more people in lower-income households experienced episodes of high psychological distress than those in higher-income households.

This difference was partly related to the greater prevalence of stressors in the lives of lower-income individuals, such as job strain, financial problems, personal stress, and problems with relationships, neighbourhoods or children. Low-household income is a marker for difficult material and psychosocial life situations.

Distress is a psychological state characterized by anxiety or a depressed mood, and may indicate more serious disorders such as clinical depression.

Among a representative sample of people aged 18 to 75 who had low psychological distress in 1994/1995, overall, 11% experienced an episode of high distress in the ensuing 12 years. However, the proportion of lower-income men and women experiencing episodes of high distress was greater than their more affluent counterparts.

Earlier research has suggested that the poorer mental health of lower-income individuals may be related to the higher prevalence of stressors to which they are exposed, and their lack of coping support.

The new findings showed that stressors play an important role in the relationship between household income and psychological distress. When the impact of stressors was taken into account, the direct association between income and the subsequent risk of experiencing an episode of distress was reduced, since lower income is itself associated with more stressors. Statistically, after taking explicit account of stressors, the direct association between income and subsequent episodes of distress remained significant for lower-income men, but not for lower-income women.

For both sexes, the stressors associated with experiencing an episode of psychological distress were job strain, financial problems, personal stress and relationship problems. For men, neighbourhood problems were also a factor. For women, problems with children and recent negative life events, such as someone in the family being demoted at work or failing an education program, were important.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3225.

The article, "Income and psychological distress: The role of the social environment," which is part of today's Health Reports, Vol. 20, no. 1 (82-003-XWE, free) online release, is now available.

For more information about this article, contact Heather M. Orpana (613-951-1650; heather.orpana@statcan.gc.ca), Health Information and Research Division.

Today's online release of Health Reports also includes the article "Evaluation of the coverage of linked Canadian Community Health Survey and hospital inpatient records." This article calculates coverage rates for linked Canadian Community Health Survey and Health Person-oriented Information records, and identifies characteristics of survey respondents who were less likely to be in the linked file. For more information, contact Michelle Rotermann (613-951-3166; michelle.rotermann@statcan.gc.ca), Health Information and Research Division.

For more information about Health Reports, contact Christine Wright (613-951-1765; christine.wright@statcan.gc.ca), Health Information and Research Division.