The weight of financial distress at risk depressive symptoms in workers in Iceland in the time of the corona virus

Abstract

There are indications that socioeconomic inequality in mental health has intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, information from Iceland is lacking. The aim of this research is to examine the association between depressive symptoms and financial hardship and other socioeconomic factors. Methods: All members of ASÍ and BSRB, the confederations of labour within the private and public sectors, were requested to answer a questionnaire on their situation at the end of 2020. The response rate was 7% of the population. The data was weighted by known population parameters. Depression symptoms were assessed on the PHQ-9 scale. Two indicators of financial hardship were used: material deprivation and the ability to make ends meet. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse the data. Results: The risk of depressive symptoms increased with a lower socioeconomic position. When controlled for other risk factors, material deprivation had the strongest predictive power, but the ability to make ends meet lowers the predictive power of both physical health and age. The predictive power of other socioeconomic factors was smaller. Conclusion: Substantial socioeconomic inequality in depression symptoms among workers in Iceland was identified during COVID-19.