Overview of literature
| Authors | Purpose | Sample/regions | Outcome measures | Methodology | Main themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Krug and Prechsl (2022) | Examine the relationship between unemployment and health | German | Self-rated health, mental health, physical health, number of doctor visits, and the number of cigarettes smoked | Fixed effect regression | Unemployment harms health. The share of unemployed among strong bonds increases after unemployment. Network size and composition are associated with some, but not all, health outcomes |
| Viertiö et al. (2021) | Investigate the factors that contribute to psychological distress in the working population, with particular reference to gender differences | Finnish regional health | Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5) | Logistic regression | Women reported more psychological distress than men, respectively. Loneliness, job dissatisfaction, and family-work conflict were associated with the highest risk of psychological distress |
| Richter et al. (2020) | To examine how the frequency of experiencing unemployment affects life satisfaction and whether their relationship changes over time | Germany | Questionnaire on life satisfaction | A longitudinal study surveyed a sample annually from 1987–2016 | This study concluded that the adverse effects of unemployment on life satisfaction increase with the time spent unemployed |
| Norström et al. (2019) | To examine how unemployment impacts health-related quality of life among swedish adults | Sweden | Quality-adjusted life year (QALY) scores were derived from the EQ-5D responses | Cross-sectional study | The study indicated that the health deterioration from unemployment is likely to be large, as the estimated effect implies an almost 10% worse health (in absolute terms) from being unemployed compared to being employed |
| Nagasu, Kogi, and Yamamoto (2019) | To clarify the associations of socioeconomic status (SES)-related variables and lifestyle factors with mental health conditions among Japanese adults aged 40–69 | Japan | General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) | Binary logistic regression analyses | Low levels of household disposable income and unhealthy lifestyle factors were significantly associated with mental health conditions |
| Mauramo et al. (2019) | Examine the associations between changes in common mental disorders (CMD) and subsequent diagnosis-specific sickness absence (SA) among midlife and ageing municipal employees | Finland | Data from the helsinki health surveys, social insurance institution of Finland, on diagnosis-specific | Cox regression modelling | The strongest associations were observed for repeated CMD and SA due to mental diagnoses |
| Ferreira et al. (2019) | To investigate the association of psychological distress and alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) among adolescents | Municipalities in Brazil | Psychological distress was defined as a score <3 Points in GHQ-12 | Cross-sectional analysis, multiple logistic regression modelling | The study concluded that smoking (passively and actively) and the consumption of alcoholic beverages are associated with psychological distress in the adolescent population |
| Mishina et al. (2018) | To examine changes in self-reported mental health problems, smoking, and alcohol habits among finnish adolescents | Finland | The strengths and difficulties questionnaire includes questions about their alcohol and smoking habits | Regression analysis | The findings showed that females reported less hyperactivity and conduct problems, and males reported fewer peer problems and better prosocial skills. The only mental health problem that showed a significant increase was emotional symptoms among women |
| Yu (2018) | To demonstrate the correlation between social inequality and gender disparities in mental health | 122-countries | The ratio of female to male depressive disorder rates, GDP, the GINI index, and the gender inequality index | Regression analysis | This study shows a significant correlation between gender inequality and gender disparities in mental health. The GINI index is significantly associated with rates of male but not female depressive disorders. Gender disparities in depressive disorders are associated with the wealth of a country |
| Lunau et al. (2014) | To determine the association between poor work–life balance and poor health in a variety of european countries, and to explore the variation of work–life balance between european countries | 27-European countries | WHO-5 well-being index and self-rated general health indicators | Logistic multilevel models | Employees reporting a poor work–life balance reported more health problems. The associations were very similar for both men and women. The best overall work–scandinavian men and women report a life balance |
| Hiilamo (2014) | To examine whether changes in the municipal gini index or the share of people living in relative poverty were linked to changes in the use of antidepressants in several finnish municipalities | Finnish municipalities | Proportion of antidepressants, gini coefficient | regression analysis 1995–2010 | The study concluded that more young adult females used antidepressants in municipalities where relative poverty had increased. Changes in the gini index were not positively associated with changes in antidepressant use in the municipalities |
| Pulkki-Råback et al. (2012) | To examine whether living alone predicts the use of antidepressant medication and whether socioeconomic, psychosocial, or behavioral factors explain this association | Finland | Finns of working age from the baseline survey, psychosocial factors, socio-demographic factors, and health behaviors | Regression analysis | The study concluded that people living alone may be at increased risk of developing mental health problems. The public health value is recognizing that people who live alone are more likely to have material and psychosocial problems that can contribute to excess mental health problems in this population group |
| Ahnquist and Wamala (2011) | Investigate the associations between economic hardships and mental health problems | Sweden | psychological distress (GHQ-12), low household income | Logistic regression analysis | The study indicates that current economic difficulties were significantly associated with mental health problems, while low income was not |
| Wieclaw et al. (2008) | Examine the risk of depressive and anxiety disorders according to psychosocial working conditions in a large population-based sample | Denmark | Job exposure matrix, psychiatric patients diagnosed with depressive or anxiety disorders | Regression analysis | Exposures to psychosocial work related to the risk of depressive and anxiety disorders differ between the sexes. Low job control was associated with an increased risk of anxiety disorders in men |
| Joutsenniemi et al. (2006) | Establish the extent and determinants of mental health differences by living arrangement in terms of psychological distress and psychiatric disorders | Finland | Cross-sectional health survey in Finland on married, cohabiting, living with others other than a partner, and living alone | Regression analysis | The study concluded that living arrangements are strongly associated with mental health, particularly among men. Information on living arrangements, social support, unemployment, and alcohol use can facilitate early-stage recognition of poor mental health in primary care |
| Authors | Purpose | Sample/regions | Outcome measures | Methodology | Main themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examine the relationship between unemployment and health | German | Self-rated health, mental health, physical health, number of doctor visits, and the number of cigarettes smoked | Fixed effect regression | Unemployment harms health. The share of unemployed among strong bonds increases after unemployment. Network size and composition are associated with some, but not all, health outcomes | |
| Investigate the factors that contribute to psychological distress in the working population, with particular reference to gender differences | Finnish regional health | Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5) | Logistic regression | Women reported more psychological distress than men, respectively. Loneliness, job dissatisfaction, and family-work conflict were associated with the highest risk of psychological distress | |
| To examine how the frequency of experiencing unemployment affects life satisfaction and whether their relationship changes over time | Germany | Questionnaire on life satisfaction | A longitudinal study surveyed a sample annually from 1987–2016 | This study concluded that the adverse effects of unemployment on life satisfaction increase with the time spent unemployed | |
| To examine how unemployment impacts health-related quality of life among swedish adults | Sweden | Quality-adjusted life year ( | Cross-sectional study | The study indicated that the health deterioration from unemployment is likely to be large, as the estimated effect implies an almost 10% worse health (in absolute terms) from being unemployed compared to being employed | |
| To clarify the associations of socioeconomic status ( | Japan | General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) | Binary logistic regression analyses | Low levels of household disposable income and unhealthy lifestyle factors were significantly associated with mental health conditions | |
| Examine the associations between changes in common mental disorders ( | Finland | Data from the helsinki health surveys, social insurance institution of Finland, on diagnosis-specific | Cox regression modelling | The strongest associations were observed for repeated | |
| To investigate the association of psychological distress and alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and exposure to secondhand smoke ( | Municipalities in Brazil | Psychological distress was defined as a score <3 Points in GHQ-12 | Cross-sectional analysis, multiple logistic regression modelling | The study concluded that smoking (passively and actively) and the consumption of alcoholic beverages are associated with psychological distress in the adolescent population | |
| To examine changes in self-reported mental health problems, smoking, and alcohol habits among finnish adolescents | Finland | The strengths and difficulties questionnaire includes questions about their alcohol and smoking habits | Regression analysis | The findings showed that females reported less hyperactivity and conduct problems, and males reported fewer peer problems and better prosocial skills. The only mental health problem that showed a significant increase was emotional symptoms among women | |
| To demonstrate the correlation between social inequality and gender disparities in mental health | 122-countries | The ratio of female to male depressive disorder rates, GDP, the | Regression analysis | This study shows a significant correlation between gender inequality and gender disparities in mental health. The | |
| To determine the association between poor work–life balance and poor health in a variety of european countries, and to explore the variation of work–life balance between european countries | 27-European countries | WHO-5 well-being index and self-rated general health indicators | Logistic multilevel models | Employees reporting a poor work–life balance reported more health problems. The associations were very similar for both men and women. The best overall work–scandinavian men and women report a life balance | |
| To examine whether changes in the municipal gini index or the share of people living in relative poverty were linked to changes in the use of antidepressants in several finnish municipalities | Finnish municipalities | Proportion of antidepressants, gini coefficient | regression analysis 1995–2010 | The study concluded that more young adult females used antidepressants in municipalities where relative poverty had increased. Changes in the gini index were not positively associated with changes in antidepressant use in the municipalities | |
| To examine whether living alone predicts the use of antidepressant medication and whether socioeconomic, psychosocial, or behavioral factors explain this association | Finland | Finns of working age from the baseline survey, psychosocial factors, socio-demographic factors, and health behaviors | Regression analysis | The study concluded that people living alone may be at increased risk of developing mental health problems. The public health value is recognizing that people who live alone are more likely to have material and psychosocial problems that can contribute to excess mental health problems in this population group | |
| Investigate the associations between economic hardships and mental health problems | Sweden | psychological distress (GHQ-12), low household income | Logistic regression analysis | The study indicates that current economic difficulties were significantly associated with mental health problems, while low income was not | |
| Examine the risk of depressive and anxiety disorders according to psychosocial working conditions in a large population-based sample | Denmark | Job exposure matrix, psychiatric patients diagnosed with depressive or anxiety disorders | Regression analysis | Exposures to psychosocial work related to the risk of depressive and anxiety disorders differ between the sexes. Low job control was associated with an increased risk of anxiety disorders in men | |
| Establish the extent and determinants of mental health differences by living arrangement in terms of psychological distress and psychiatric disorders | Finland | Cross-sectional health survey in Finland on married, cohabiting, living with others other than a partner, and living alone | Regression analysis | The study concluded that living arrangements are strongly associated with mental health, particularly among men. Information on living arrangements, social support, unemployment, and alcohol use can facilitate early-stage recognition of poor mental health in primary care |
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