Educational Attainment Inequalities in Depressive Symptoms in More Than 100 000 Individuals in Europe
Introduction Increasing educational attainment (EA) could decrease the occurrence of depression. We investigated the relationship between EA and depressive symptoms in older individuals across four European regions. Objectives 1) examine association between EA and depressive symptoms 2) determine,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2022-06-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822006897/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797617606327271424 |
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| author | A. Chlapecka A. Kagstrom P. Cermakova |
| author_facet | A. Chlapecka A. Kagstrom P. Cermakova |
| author_sort | A. Chlapecka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
Increasing educational attainment (EA) could decrease the occurrence of depression. We investigated the relationship between EA and depressive symptoms in older individuals across four European regions.
Objectives
1) examine association between EA and depressive symptoms 2) determine, if there is an upper limit to this association 3) explore regional and demographic differences within this relationship across Europe
Methods
We studied 108 315 Europeans (54 % women, median age 63 years old) in Europe assessing EA and depressive symptoms. Logistic regression estimated the association between EA and depressive symptoms, adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related factors; testing for sex/age/region and education interactions.
Results
Higher EA was associated with lower odds of depressive symptoms, independent of sociodemographic and health-related factors. A threshold of the lowest odds of depressive symptoms was detected at the first stage of tertiary education (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.55-0.65; p<0.001; relative to no education). Central and Eastern Europe showed the strongest association (OR for high vs. low education 0.37; 95% CI 0.33-0.40; p<0.001) and Scandinavia the weakest (OR for high vs. low education 0.69; 95% CI 0.60-0.80; p<0.001). The association was strongest amongst younger individuals. There was a sex and education interaction only within Central and Eastern Europe.
Conclusions
Level of EA is reflected in later-life depressive symptoms, suggesting that supporting individuals in achieving EA, and considering those with lower EA at increased risk for depression, could lead to decreased burden of depression across the life-course. Further educational support in Central and Eastern Europe may decrease the higher burden of depressive symptoms in women.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:58:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-de28c094b393441fbf727ab2763a8bc9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:58:10Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-de28c094b393441fbf727ab2763a8bc92023-11-17T05:05:20ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S269S26910.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.689Educational Attainment Inequalities in Depressive Symptoms in More Than 100 000 Individuals in EuropeA. Chlapecka0A. Kagstrom1P. Cermakova2Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Department Of Psychiatry And Medical Psychology, Klecany, Czech Republic Centre of Clinical Neuroscience, Department Of Neurology, Prague, Czech RepublicNational Institute of Mental Health, Public Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Department Of Epidemiology, Prague, Czech Republic Introduction Increasing educational attainment (EA) could decrease the occurrence of depression. We investigated the relationship between EA and depressive symptoms in older individuals across four European regions. Objectives 1) examine association between EA and depressive symptoms 2) determine, if there is an upper limit to this association 3) explore regional and demographic differences within this relationship across Europe Methods We studied 108 315 Europeans (54 % women, median age 63 years old) in Europe assessing EA and depressive symptoms. Logistic regression estimated the association between EA and depressive symptoms, adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related factors; testing for sex/age/region and education interactions. Results Higher EA was associated with lower odds of depressive symptoms, independent of sociodemographic and health-related factors. A threshold of the lowest odds of depressive symptoms was detected at the first stage of tertiary education (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.55-0.65; p<0.001; relative to no education). Central and Eastern Europe showed the strongest association (OR for high vs. low education 0.37; 95% CI 0.33-0.40; p<0.001) and Scandinavia the weakest (OR for high vs. low education 0.69; 95% CI 0.60-0.80; p<0.001). The association was strongest amongst younger individuals. There was a sex and education interaction only within Central and Eastern Europe. Conclusions Level of EA is reflected in later-life depressive symptoms, suggesting that supporting individuals in achieving EA, and considering those with lower EA at increased risk for depression, could lead to decreased burden of depression across the life-course. Further educational support in Central and Eastern Europe may decrease the higher burden of depressive symptoms in women. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822006897/type/journal_articleeducationDepressionEpidemiologyEurope |
| spellingShingle | A. Chlapecka A. Kagstrom P. Cermakova Educational Attainment Inequalities in Depressive Symptoms in More Than 100 000 Individuals in Europe European Psychiatry education Depression Epidemiology Europe |
| title | Educational Attainment Inequalities in Depressive Symptoms in More Than 100 000 Individuals in Europe |
| title_full | Educational Attainment Inequalities in Depressive Symptoms in More Than 100 000 Individuals in Europe |
| title_fullStr | Educational Attainment Inequalities in Depressive Symptoms in More Than 100 000 Individuals in Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Educational Attainment Inequalities in Depressive Symptoms in More Than 100 000 Individuals in Europe |
| title_short | Educational Attainment Inequalities in Depressive Symptoms in More Than 100 000 Individuals in Europe |
| title_sort | educational attainment inequalities in depressive symptoms in more than 100 000 individuals in europe |
| topic | education Depression Epidemiology Europe |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822006897/type/journal_article |
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