Publication type
Research Paper
Series
OSF Working Papers
Authors
Publication date
July 13, 2022
Summary:
A substantial body of evidence suggests that young people, including those at the crucial transition points between 14 and 24, now face severe mental health challenges. In this article, we analyse and model data from 10 waves of a major UK longitudinal household cohort study, Understanding Society, to examine the relationship between income and anxiety and depression among 16- to 24-year-olds. Using a within-between model, we find that apart from among those with the very highest incomes, increases in average net equivalised household income over the course of childhood and adolescence are significantly associated with reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression as measured by a higher score on the SF-12 Mental Component Summary (MCS). Using logistic regression, we also find a significant and monotonic association between average equivalised net household income quintiles and clinical threshold levels of depressive symptoms (SF-12 MCS score ≤45.6). While analyses using benefit unit income show slightly non-monotonic associations, a gradient is still present. Compared with previous reviews, the data presented here provides an estimate of the magnitude of effect that helps facilitate microsimulation modelling of impact on anxiety and depression from changes in socioeconomic circumstances. This enables a more detailed and complete understanding of the types of socioeconomic intervention, including welfare reforms like Universal Basic Income, that might begin to address some of the causes of youth mental health problems.
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Understanding the relationship between income and mental health among 16- to 24- year-olds: analysis of 10 waves (2009–2020) of Understanding Society to enable modelling of income interventions
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