Is wealth associated with depressive symptoms in the United States?

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the relation between family wealth and depression in U.S. adults.

Methods: Participants were 5134 members of the 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who were aged 18 years or older and completed the depression screener. Using the Patient Health Questionnaire and household demographics interview data, we calculate the adjusted odds of depressive symptoms for persons with low relative to high family savings, using multivariable logistic regression. We estimate predicted probabilities of having depressive symptoms for low and high family savings groups at low, middle, and high family income categories.

Results: Overall, 57.4% of the total weighted population had low family savings (below $20,000), and 23.7% of the weighted population had depressive symptoms. Persons with low family savings had 1.49 times higher odds (95% confidence interval, 1.01-2.21) of having depressive symptoms than persons with high family savings, controlling for gender, age, race, education, marital status, family size, and family income. Predicted probabilities of depressive symptoms were higher for low family savings groups than high family savings groups at every income level.

Conclusions: Family wealth is associated with lower prevalence of current depressive symptoms in U.S. adults. Wealth may be an important determinant of population mental health, separate and independent from income.

Keywords: Depression; Economics; Healthcare disparities; Mental health; Psychological; Socioeconomic factors; Stress.