Living conditions and occupational organization associated with common mental disorders

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) and evaluate their association with living conditions and occupational organization. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of a random sample of private households was carried out in Olinda, Brazil, in 1993. The sample consisted of 621 adults aged 15 years or over and the participants were interviewed using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) and a second questionnaire on social and economic characteristics. Crude and adjusted odds ratios were estimated using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of CMD was 35%. Only the variables education level (p<0.0001) and housing conditions (p=0.02) showed an independent association with CMD after adjustment for other living conditions variables, sex, age and marital status. Regarding occupational organization, non-regulated blue-collar workers (OR=2.21; 95% CI 1.1-4.5) and subjects with the lowest per capita monthly household income (OR=2.87; 95%CI 1.4-5.8) showed a higher prevalence of CMD. CONCLUSIONS: Lower education level and income, exclusion from the law regulated labor market, and social class structure produce stressful situations increasing CMD.