Aging
Adverse Socioeconomic Changes and Mental Health in Older Age: Results from the Lebanon Study on Ageing and Health Martine Elbejjani* Martine Elbejjani Aya El Sammak Carlos Mendes de Leon Abla Mehio Sibai Stephen McCall Sawsan Abdulrahim Adina Zeki Al Hazzouri Monique Chaaya
Background
Socioeconomic disadvantage is a key determinant of mental health across the lifecourse. Less is known about the impact of socioeconomic changes in older age and current evidence come from higher-income countries where retirement and welfare support can help withstand adverse changes. We assessed how socioeconomic adversities experienced during a recent record economic crisis relate to mental health among older adults in Lebanon.
Methods
We used data from the population-based Lebanon Study on Ageing and Heath (LSAHA, n=3,027, mean age=70.55±7.89; 37% men). The relation of self-reported ability to secure basic needs (e.g., food, electricity, heat) during the recent crisis with elevated depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-8) and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7)) symptoms was assessed using logistic regression models adjusted for age, gender, education, mental health history, and wealth index.
Results
Around 57% and 43% of participants had elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms; 63% reported being unable to purchase basic needs since the crisis. This adverse change was associated with 1.42 (95% CI= 1.29, 1.57) and 1.38 (95% CI= 1.24, 1.54) higher odds of elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Associations were more substantial in rural settings and further analyses will examine potential gender and socioeconomic disparities.
Conclusion
Results show a significant mental health burden among older adults in Lebanon and a large-magnitude association with hardship due to the recent economic crisis. Results emphasize the importance of monitoring the health impact of socioeconomic changes in older age, particularly in settings with limited resources to mitigate such changes.