TY - JOUR
T1 - Inequalities in Psychiatric Morbidity in Hong Kong and Strategies for Mitigation
AU - Chan, Siu-Ming
AU - Lam, Linda Chiu-Wa
AU - Law, Wing-Yan
AU - Hung, Se-Fong
AU - Chan, Wai-Chi
AU - Chen, Eric Yu-Hai
AU - Chung, Gary Ka-Ki
AU - Chan, Yat-Hang
AU - Chung, Roger Yat-Nork
AU - Wong, Hung
AU - Yeoh, Eng-Kiong
AU - Woo, Jean
PY - 2022/6
Y1 - 2022/6
N2 - This study explores the social gradient of psychiatric morbidity. The Hong Kong Mental Morbidity Survey (HKMMS), consisting of 5719 Chinese adults aged 16 to 75 years, was used. The Chinese version of the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R) was employed for psychiatric assessment of common mental disorders (CMD). People with a less advantaged socioeconomic position (lower education, lower household income, unemployment, small living area and public rental housing) had a higher prevalence of depression and anxiety disorder. People with lower incomes had worse physical health (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.05–3.82) and greater odds of having CMD in the presence of a family history of psychiatric illnesses (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.18–2.36). Unemployment also had a greater impact for those in lower-income groups (OR 2.67; 95% CI 1.85–3.85), whereas no significant association was observed in high-income groups (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.14–2.17). Mitigating strategies in terms of services and social support should target socially disadvantaged groups with a high risk of psychiatric morbidity. Such strategies include collaboration among government, civil society and business sectors in harnessing community resources.
AB - This study explores the social gradient of psychiatric morbidity. The Hong Kong Mental Morbidity Survey (HKMMS), consisting of 5719 Chinese adults aged 16 to 75 years, was used. The Chinese version of the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R) was employed for psychiatric assessment of common mental disorders (CMD). People with a less advantaged socioeconomic position (lower education, lower household income, unemployment, small living area and public rental housing) had a higher prevalence of depression and anxiety disorder. People with lower incomes had worse physical health (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.05–3.82) and greater odds of having CMD in the presence of a family history of psychiatric illnesses (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.18–2.36). Unemployment also had a greater impact for those in lower-income groups (OR 2.67; 95% CI 1.85–3.85), whereas no significant association was observed in high-income groups (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.14–2.17). Mitigating strategies in terms of services and social support should target socially disadvantaged groups with a high risk of psychiatric morbidity. Such strategies include collaboration among government, civil society and business sectors in harnessing community resources.
KW - mental morbidity
KW - Hong Kong
KW - social gradient
KW - inequality
KW - mental health policy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85131565141&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85131565141&origin=recordpage
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph19127095
DO - 10.3390/ijerph19127095
M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal
C2 - 35742339
SN - 1660-4601
VL - 19
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
IS - 12
M1 - 7095
ER -
