title: Socioeconomic gradients and mental health: implications for public health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research on mental well-being is relatively new and studies of its determinants are rare.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether the socioeconomic correlates of mental well-being mirror those for mental illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using logistic regression analyses, the independent odds ratios of high and low mental well-being, compared with middle-range mental well-being, were estimated for a number of sociodemographic variables known to be associated with mental illness from 13 983 participants in the 2010 and 2011 Health Surveys for England.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Independent odds ratios for low mental well-being were as expected from studies of mental illness with increased odds for the unemployed (OR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.01-2.10) and those aged 35-54 years (OR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.35-1.84) and reduced odds for the married (OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.62-0.97). A linear trend was observed with education and equivalised income. Odds ratios for high mental well-being differed from those for low mental well-being with regard to age (55+ years: OR = 1.48, 95% CI 1.23-1.79); employment status where there was an association only with retirement (OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.09-1.69); education where there was no association; and equivalised income for which the association was non-linear.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Odds ratios for low mental well-being mirrored those for mental illness, but not those for high mental well-being, suggesting that the socioeconomic factors associated with positive mental health are different from those associated with mental illness.
authors: Sarah Stewart-Brown, PhD, FFPHM, FRCP, FRCPH, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry; Preshila Chandimali Samaraweera, MBBS, MSc, MD, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry and Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka; Frances Taggart, MS, PhD, Ngianga-Bakwin Kandala, PhD, Saverio Stranges, PhD, FFPH, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Stewart-Brown
authors: Sarah Stewart-Brown, PhD, FFPHM, FRCP, FRCPH, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry; Preshila Chandimali Samaraweera, MBBS, MSc, MD, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry and Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka; Frances Taggart, MS, PhD, Ngianga-Bakwin Kandala, PhD, Saverio Stranges, PhD, FFPH, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors: Preshila Chandimali
authors: PC
authors: Samaraweera
authors: Sarah Stewart-Brown, PhD, FFPHM, FRCP, FRCPH, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry; Preshila Chandimali Samaraweera, MBBS, MSc, MD, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry and Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka; Frances Taggart, MS, PhD, Ngianga-Bakwin Kandala, PhD, Saverio Stranges, PhD, FFPH, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors: Frances
authors: F
authors: Taggart
authors: Sarah Stewart-Brown, PhD, FFPHM, FRCP, FRCPH, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry; Preshila Chandimali Samaraweera, MBBS, MSc, MD, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry and Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka; Frances Taggart, MS, PhD, Ngianga-Bakwin Kandala, PhD, Saverio Stranges, PhD, FFPH, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors: Ngianga-Bakwin
authors: NB
authors: Kandala
authors: Sarah Stewart-Brown, PhD, FFPHM, FRCP, FRCPH, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry; Preshila Chandimali Samaraweera, MBBS, MSc, MD, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry and Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka; Frances Taggart, MS, PhD, Ngianga-Bakwin Kandala, PhD, Saverio Stranges, PhD, FFPH, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors: Saverio
authors: S
authors: Stranges
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult