Decomposing socioeconomic inequality in poor mental health among Iranian adult population: results from the PERSIAN cohort study

1Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
2Nutritional Sciences Department, School of Public Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
3Social Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
4Social Determinants of Health Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
5South Tehran Health Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
6Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
7Cellular and molecular research center, school of medicine, Sabzevar university of medical sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
8Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
9Industrial Diseases Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
10Diabetes Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
11Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
12Gastrointestinal and liver disease research center, Guilan University of medical sciences, Rasht, Iran
13Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz university of medical sciences, Shiraz, Iran
14Research Center of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Tabriz University of Medical sciences, Tabriz, Iran
15Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, school of public health, Ahvaz jundishapur university of medical sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
16Modeling in Health Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
17Digestive Disease Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
18School of Health Administration, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
19Social Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
BMC Psychiatry

Abstract

Background

Socioeconomic inequality in mental health in Iran is poorly understood. This study aimed to assess socioeconomic inequality in poor mental health among Iranian adults.

Methods

The study used the baseline data of PERSIAN cohort study including 131,813 participants from 17 geographically distinct areas of Iran. The Erreygers Concentration index (E) was used to quantify the socioeconomic inequalities in poor mental health. Moreover, we decomposed the E to identify factors contributing to the observed socioeconomic inequality in poor mental health in Iran.

Results

The estimated E for poor mental health was − 0.012 (95% CI: − 0.0144, − 0.0089), indicating slightly higher concentration of mental health problem among socioeconomically disadvantaged adults in Iran. Socioeconomic inequality in poor mental health was mainly explained by gender (19.93%) and age (12.70%). Region, SES itself, and physical activity were other important factors that contributed to the concentration of poor mental health among adults with low socioeconomic status.

Conclusion

There exists nearly equitable distribution in poor mental health among Iranian adults, but with important variations by gender, SES, and geography. These results suggested that interventional programs in Iran should focus on should focus more on socioeconomically disadvantaged people as a whole, with particular attention to the needs of women and those living in more socially disadvantaged regions.

Keywords: Mental health, Socioeconomic inequality, Concentration index, Decomposition

How to Cite

Najafi F, Pasdar Y, Karami Matin B, Rezaei S, Kazemi Karyani A, Soltani S, Soofi M, Rezaeian S, Zangeneh A, Moradinazar M, Hamzeh B, Jorjoran Shushtari Z, Sajjadipour M, Eslami S, Khosrojerdi M, Shabestari S, Mehrparvar AH, Kashi Z, Nejatizadeh A, Naghipour M, Sadeghi Boogar S, Fakhari A, Cheraghian B, Heidari H, Molavi P, Hajizadeh M, Salimi Y. Decomposing socioeconomic inequality in poor mental health among Iranian adult population: results from the PERSIAN cohort study. BMC Psychiatry. 2020 May 13;20(1):229. doi: 10.1186/s12888-020-02596-y. PMID: 32404081; PMCID: PMC7218818.