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Development of severe psychological distress among low-income individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic: longitudinal study.
Kikuchi, Hiroyuki; Machida, Masaki; Nakamura, Itaru; Saito, Reiko; Odagiri, Yuko; Kojima, Takako; Watanabe, Hidehiro; Inoue, Shigeru.
  • Kikuchi H; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Japan.
  • Machida M; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Japan; and Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Japan.
  • Nakamura I; Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Japan.
  • Saito R; Division of International Health (Public Health), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Japan.
  • Odagiri Y; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Japan.
  • Kojima T; Department of International Medical Communications, Tokyo Medical University, Japan.
  • Watanabe H; Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Japan.
  • Inoue S; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Japan.
BJPsych Open ; 7(2): e50, 2021 Feb 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1082332
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

It has been indicated that the health impact of COVID-19 is potentially greater in individuals from lower socioeconomic status than in the overall population.

AIMS:

To examine how the spread of COVID-19 has altered the general public's mental health, and whether such changes differ in relation to individual income.

METHOD:

An online longitudinal survey was conducted at three different time periods during the pandemic. We recruited 1993 people aged 20-70 years, living in the Tokyo metropolitan area in Japan. Participants' mental health was measured with the six-item version of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale; the existence of severe psychological distress was ascertained through the cut-off data. Multiple logistic and mixed-model ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed, with income as the independent variable.

RESULTS:

Of the participants, 985 were male, with a mean age of 50.5 (±15.8) years. Severe psychological distress percentages for each tested period were 9.3%, 11.2% and 10.7% for phases 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Between phases 1 and 2 or phases 2 and 3, the group that earned <£15 000 had significantly higher propensity to develop severe psychological distress than the group that earned ≥£45 000 (odds ratio 2.09, 95% CI 0.95-4.56 between phases 1 and 2; odds ratio 3.00, 95% CI 1.01-9.58 between phases 2 and 3).

CONCLUSIONS:

Although there has been significant deterioration in mental health among citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic, this was more significant among those with lower income. Therefore, mental health measures that focus on low socioeconomic groups may be necessary.
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Language: English Journal: BJPsych Open Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Bjo.2021.5

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Language: English Journal: BJPsych Open Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Bjo.2021.5