title: [Prevalence of common mental disorders and the relationship to the social context: multilevel analysis of the São Paulo Ageing & Health Study (SPAH)].
abstract: Social context can play a important role in the etiology and prevalence of mental disorders. The aim of the present study was to investigate risk factors for common mental disorders (CMD), considering different contextual levels: individual, household, and census tract. The study used a population-based sample of 2,366 respondents from the São Paulo Ageing & Health Study. Presence of CMD was identified by the SRQ-20. Sex, age, education, and occupation were individual characteristics associated with prevalence of CMD. Multilevel logistic regression models showed that part of the variance in prevalence of CMD was associated with the household level, showing associations between crowding, family income, and CMD, even after controlling for individual characteristics. These results suggest that characteristics of the environment where people live can influence their mental health status.
authors.forename: Letícia Maria Silva
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Coutinho
authors.forename: Alícia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matijasevich
authors.forename: Márcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scazufca
authors.forename: Paulo Rossi
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Menezes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population