Author:
Weich Scott,Twigg Liz,Lewis Glyn
Abstract
BackgroundSome UK studies have reported an urban excess in the prevalence of the
most common mental disorders of anxiety and depression.AimsTo investigate rural/non-rural differences in the onset and maintenance
of episodes of common mental disorders, after adjusting for the
characteristics of respondents and their households.MethodA 12-month cohort study of 7659 adults aged 16–74 years living in 4338
private households, nested within 626 electoral wards in England, Wales
and Scotland. Common mental disorders were assessed using the General
Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Electoral wards were characterised by Office
for National Statistics classification and by population density. Data
were analysed using multilevel statistical modelling.ResultsRural residents had slightly better mental health than non-rural
counterparts. The effects of geographical location on the mental health
of participants were neither significantly confounded nor modified by
socioeconomic status, employment status or household income.ConclusionsThere are small but statistically significant differences in rates of
common mental disorders between urban and rural residents. Quantifying
between-place differences using population density alone risks missing
important contextual effects on mental health.
Publisher
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health
Cited by
95 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献