Choi Minjae, Lee Eun Hae, Sempungu Joshua Kirabo, Lee Yo Han
Institute for Future Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Psychiatry Investig. 2023 Jan;20(1):35-42. doi: 10.30773/pi.2022.0157. Epub 2023 Jan 25.
Financial hardship influences depression risk, however, the pathway of the effect of financial hardship on depression and the role of self-esteem remain unclear. This study examined whether changes in financial hardship affected depression, and whether self-esteem mediated by this relationship.
Data from 99,588 observations of 15,331 individuals were extracted from 10 waves of the Korean Welfare Panel Study. The association between changes in financial hardship and depression was investigated using a generalized estimation equation, and the extent to which these associations were mediated by self-esteem was assessed.
The results indicated that changes in financial hardship were associated with depression, with varying magnitude. Experiencing severe financial hardship over two consecutive years (odds ratio [OR]: 3.87, 95% confidence interval [CI]=3.09-4.85) or increased financial hardship over the previous year strongly influenced depression (e.g., OR: 3.88, 95% CI=3.09-4.86 for low financial hardship at t-1 year and high at t year). Self-esteem plays a mediating role in the relationship between changes in financial hardship and depression, where persistent financial hardship is associated with low self-esteem, leading to depression.
These findings highlighted the importance of monitoring and intervention for financial hardship and psychological problems to help manage depression.
经济困难会影响抑郁风险，然而，经济困难对抑郁产生影响的途径以及自尊的作用仍不明确。本研究考察了经济困难的变化是否会影响抑郁，以及自尊是否在这种关系中起中介作用。
从韩国福利面板研究的10个波次中提取了15331名个体的99588条观测数据。使用广义估计方程研究经济困难变化与抑郁之间的关联，并评估这些关联由自尊介导的程度。
结果表明，经济困难的变化与抑郁相关，程度各异。连续两年经历严重经济困难（比值比[OR]：3.87，95%置信区间[CI]=3.09-4.85）或上一年经济困难加剧对抑郁有强烈影响（例如，t-1年经济困难低而t年高时，OR：3.88，95%CI=3.09-4.86）。自尊在经济困难变化与抑郁的关系中起中介作用，持续的经济困难与低自尊相关，进而导致抑郁。
这些发现凸显了监测和干预经济困难及心理问题以帮助控制抑郁的重要性。
