title: An ecological study of the relationship between socioeconomic isolation and mental health in the most deprived areas in Auckland, New Zealand.
abstract: International debate posits that when groups feel deprived relative to reference groups in society, there may be psychosocial impacts. Deprivation varies geographically and deprived areas may be proximal to advantaged areas. In theory, this leads to chronic stress and poor mental health. This research explored whether socioeconomically isolated deprived areas experience increased levels of anxiety/mental disorder treatment, compared to other deprived areas. We developed a spatial isolation measure to characterise deprived areas surrounded by advantaged areas in Auckland, New Zealand. We found that isolated areas were characterised by fewer Māori and Pacific people, high density and shorter travel time to General Practitioners. We found significantly higher rates of anxiety/mood disorder treatment in highly isolated versus non-isolated areas and a statistically significant relationship with anxiety/mood disorders for each isolation level, both before and after confounder adjustment. This evidence suggests that mental health within small areas may be sensitive to the neighbourhood interactions, through social comparison or discrimination which lead to psychosocial stress.
authors.affiliation: University of Canterbury, Department of Geography, GeoHealth Laboratory, Christchurch, New Zealand. amber.pearson@otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: Amber L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kingham
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology*; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011156:Population Density; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D062206:Spatial Analysis; D055815:Young Adult