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Navigating Economic Inequities: Neighborhood Relative Income and Depressive Symptoms in Later Life

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Depressive symptoms are influenced not only by absolute income but also by relative income, particularly among older adults. The present article, guided by the relative deprivation theory and relative position hypothesis, examines the relationship between neighborhood relative income and depressive symptoms in older adults. This study utilized a merged dataset from the American Community Survey data and the RAND Health and Retirement Study data (N = 3,071; age 65+). Neighborhood relative income was measured by calculating the difference between the natural logarithm of an individual's household income and the natural logarithm of the median household income in their Census tract, then dividing this difference by the natural logarithm of the median household income in the same tract. Negative binomial regression revealed a significant link between lower relative economic positions and more counts of depressive symptoms, even after controlling for individual and neighborhood covariates. These findings underscore the urgent need for social work interventions and policies that address the mental health impacts of economic disparities in older populations. Future research should explore the pathways through which relative deprivation influences mental health to inform more targeted interventions.

Source: Journal of Ageing and Longevity

DOI: 10.3390/jal4040032

Author: Seungjong Cho

Institution: Texas Tech University

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: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,137