Work

Making ends meet – relating a self-reported indicator of financial hardship to health status

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Area-based index of multiple deprivation (IMD) indicators of financial hardship lack individual specificity and sensitivity. This study compared self-reports of hardship with area measures in relation to health status. METHODS: Interviews in one London Borough, reported financial hardship and health status. Associations of health status with most and least deprived quintiles of the IMD 2015 were compared with self-reported hardship; always or sometimes 'having difficulty making ends meet at the end of the month' in relation to never. RESULTS: 1024 interviews reported hardship status in 1001 (98%). 392 people (39%) reported they 'always' or 'sometimes' had hardship. In multivariate analysis, self-reported hardship was more strongly associated with smoking; odds ratio = 5.4 (95% CI: 2.8-10.4) compared with IMD, odds ratio = 1.9 (95% CI: 1.2-3.2). Health impairment was also more likely with self-reported hardship, odds ratio = 11.1 (95% CI: 4.9-25.4) compared with IMD; odds ratio = 2.7 (95% CI: 1.4-5.3). Depression was similarly related; odds ratio = 2.4 (95% CI: 1.0-5.6) and 2.7 (95% CI: 1.2-6.6), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported hardship was more strongly related to health status than area-based indicators. Validity and implementation in routine health care settings remains to be established.

Source: Journal of Public Health

DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdad161

Authors: Kate Homer, Jayne Taylor, Alexander Miller, Kate Pickett, Lucy Wilson, John Robson

Institutions: Queen Mary University of London, UK Health Security Agency, University of York, Health Education England

Language: English

Topic: Health disparities and outcomes

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities, No poverty

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,753