Abstract
Background
In the past few years, there has been increasing interest in studying the association between problems in the neighbourhood
environment and health indicators. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between the perception of environmental
problems by individuals and the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) in Spain.
environment and health indicators. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between the perception of environmental
problems by individuals and the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) in Spain.
Methods
A cross-sectional study using data from a large scale national representative survey of households (the 2006 Spanish National
Health Survey). Participants included in the study were aged between 16 and 64 years (n = 23,760). The dependent variable was common mental disorders assessed with the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). The
independent variable was the individual’s perception of environmental problems. Raw and adjusted Odds Ratios and their confidence
intervals (95%) were calculated by fitting logistic regression models adjusting for age, marital status, work situation, social
class, rural or urban area, country of origin, restrictions in carrying out activities of daily life due to a health problem
and social support.
Health Survey). Participants included in the study were aged between 16 and 64 years (n = 23,760). The dependent variable was common mental disorders assessed with the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). The
independent variable was the individual’s perception of environmental problems. Raw and adjusted Odds Ratios and their confidence
intervals (95%) were calculated by fitting logistic regression models adjusting for age, marital status, work situation, social
class, rural or urban area, country of origin, restrictions in carrying out activities of daily life due to a health problem
and social support.
Results
The individuals who reported environmental problems had a higher prevalence of CMD. There was a clear increasing gradient
in CMD prevalence with the increase in the number of environmental problems mentioned. Among the subjects who reported to
have 1 or no environmental problem the prevalence of CMD was 11.8% (men) and 18.7% (women), and among those who mentioned
6 or more problems, the prevalence increased to 20.8% (men) and 35.4% (women). After adjusting for all the co-variables, there
is an association between environmental problems and CMD (men OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.08–1.66; women OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.27–1.67).
The environmental problems most strongly associated with the prevalence of CMD are noise, bad smell, air pollution, and lack
of green areas.
in CMD prevalence with the increase in the number of environmental problems mentioned. Among the subjects who reported to
have 1 or no environmental problem the prevalence of CMD was 11.8% (men) and 18.7% (women), and among those who mentioned
6 or more problems, the prevalence increased to 20.8% (men) and 35.4% (women). After adjusting for all the co-variables, there
is an association between environmental problems and CMD (men OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.08–1.66; women OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.27–1.67).
The environmental problems most strongly associated with the prevalence of CMD are noise, bad smell, air pollution, and lack
of green areas.
Conclusions
Our findings show that individuals who perceive environmental problems in their neighbourhood have a higher prevalence of
CMD, even after adjusting for all co-variables. In addition, there is a clear increasing gradient in the prevalence of CMD
with the increase in the number of environmental problems. Efforts to reduce the prevalence of CMD must be directed to improve
individual and contextual risks.
CMD, even after adjusting for all co-variables. In addition, there is a clear increasing gradient in the prevalence of CMD
with the increase in the number of environmental problems. Efforts to reduce the prevalence of CMD must be directed to improve
individual and contextual risks.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s00127-012-0474-0
- Authors
- Kátia Rocha, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Pl. Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
- Katherine Pérez, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Pl. Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
- Maica Rodríguez-Sanz, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Pl. Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
- Jordi E. Obiols, Departament de Psicologia Clinica i de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Carme Borrell, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Pl. Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
- Journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
- Online ISSN 1433-9285
- Print ISSN 0933-7954