Disrupted daily routines mediate the socioeconomic gradient of depression amid public health crises: A repeated cross-sectional study

Francisco Tsz Tsun LAI, Vivien Kin Yi CHAN, Tsz Wai LI, Xue LI, Stevan E HOBFOLL, Tatia Mei-Chun LEE, Wai Kai HOU

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14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: There is a socioeconomic gradient to depression risks, with more pronounced inequality amid macroenvironmental potential traumatic events. Between mid-2019 and mid-2020, the Hong Kong population experienced drastic societal changes, including the escalating civil unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined the change of the socioeconomic gradient in depression and the potential intermediary role of daily routine disruptions. 

Method: We conducted repeated territory-wide telephone surveys in July 2019 and July 2020 with 1112 and 2034 population-representative Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong citizens above 15 years old, respectively. Stratified by year, we examined the association between socioeconomic indicators (education attainment, household income, employment status and marital status) and probable depression (nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] ⩾ 10) using logistic regression. Differences in the socioeconomic gradient between 2019 and 2020 were tested. Finally, we performed a path analysis to test for the mediating role of daily routine disruptions. 

Results: Logistic regression showed that higher education attainment in 2019 and being married in 2020 were protective against probable depression. Interaction analysis showed that the inverse association of higher education attainment with probable depression attenuated in 2020 but that of being married increased. Path analysis showed that the mediated effects through daily routine disruptions accounted for 95.9% of the socioeconomic gradient of probable depression in 2020, compared with 13.1% in 2019. 

Conclusion: From July 2019 to July 2020, the mediating role of daily routine disruptions in the socioeconomic gradient of depression in Hong Kong increased. It is thus implied that infection control measures should consider the relevant potential mental health impacts accordingly. Copyright © 2021 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1320-1331
Journal Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
Volume56
Issue number10
Early online dateOct 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2022

Citation

Lai, F. T. T., Chan, V. K. Y., Li, T. W., Li, X., Hobfoll, S. E., Lee, T. M.-C., & Hou, W. K. (2022). Disrupted daily routines mediate the socioeconomic gradient of depression amid public health crises: A repeated cross-sectional study. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 56(10), 1320-1331. doi: 10.1177/00048674211051271

Keywords

  • Health equity
  • Major depressive disorder
  • Public mental health
  • Social epidemiology

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