Childhood socioeconomic status and adulthood mental health: results from the survey on employees of Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Background Socioeconomic status, especially during childhood, is known as one of the key factors affecting health. This study’s objective was to investigate the association between childhood socioeconomic and mental health status in adulthood. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 2062 employees of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Depression, stress and anxiety were measured using the validated DASS-42 questionnaire. A self-rated question was used to assess childhood socioeconomic status. Other variables including age, sex, marital status, and also wealth index, were measured. Linear regression models were used to analyze the data. Results 24.6% of men and 33.8% of women had degrees of depression (mild, moderate, severe or very severe). 32.9% of men and 29.4% of women had mild, moderate, severe or very severe anxiety. 36.3% of men and 45.2% of women also exhibited mild, moderate, severe or very severe stress. Results showed after adjusting for the current socioeconomic status, childhood socioeconomic status has a relationship with the mental health of individuals. Conclusion People with a suboptimal childhood socioeconomic status seem to be a high-risk group for depression, stress and anxiety in adulthood. Strategies need to put into practice to improve the mental health of these people.

The relationship between childhood socioeconomic status and depression level in older adults: the mediating role of adult socioeconomic status and subjective well-being

“…Early life environment can have a long-term impact on one's future decisions [ 51 ], and socioeconomic status has a certain degree of stability and heritability [ 52 ], so that childhood socioeconomic status can influence adult socioeconomic status,and higher socioeconomic status usually means better income, better social security and support, and even better health conditions, among other factors, all of which help to promote mental health and reduce depression level. Many studies have shown that socioeconomic status has long-term effects on physical functioning and is significantly associated with mental health in older adults, and that lower socioeconomic status in childhood increases the risk of depression, stress and anxiety in adulthood [ 53 – 56 ].…”

The Role of Childhood Circumstances on Social Conditions and Health of Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Ardakan Cohort Study on Aging (ACSA)

“…SHARE findings suggested that higher parental SES was positively associated with cognitive and physical health (Brandt et al, 2012). To investigate the effects of childhood SES on mental health, assessments on the 2062 Iranian employees showed that the mean score of depression, anxiety, and stress in respondents with low childhood SES was 2.79, 1.65, and 2.16 more increased than those with high childhood SES (Mehri et al, 2022).…”

“…These ongoing and past complex and unique experiences underscore the importance of studying the late-life consequences of childhood SES on the overall population health of Iranian middle-aged and older adults. While numerous Iranian studies have explored the relationship between SES and health (Mehri et al, 2022), focusing on childhood SES and its effects during late-life remains relatively unexplored. Existing research has predominantly taken place in developed countries (Angelini et al, 2019), making it essential to conduct investigations in countries like Iran, where a large portion of the future older adult population will reside.…”

Does adult socioeconomic status mediate the relationship between adolescent socioeconomic status and adult quality of life?

“…16 SES indicators can affect different aspects of people’s QOL directly and indirectly, especially during adolescence. 17 – 21 The adolescent subjective socioeconomic status (SSS) refers to an individual’s perception of his/her (or his/her family’s) SES in comparison to other members of society. 22 In contrast, Objective SES is the economic and social position of individuals in relation to others, and it is widely assessed by utilizing three indicators: income, education, and occupation.…”