Publication
Title
Economic hardship and depression across the life course : the impact of welfare state regimes
Author
Abstract
Previous research in the United States suggests that depression related to economic hardship decreases with age. We test whether this pattern can be generalized to other developed nations. Based on data from 23 countries in the European Social Survey (2006-2007), multilevel analyses show that the moderating role of age depends on the socio-political context. While the hardship-depression link is not significantly different across the life course in Nordic and Bismarckian regimes, the hardship-depression link increases with age in Southern and Eastern European countries and decreases with age in strength in Anglo-Saxon welfare states. Our findings suggest that welfare state regimes play a significant role in attenuating, boosting, or even reversing the health effects of social experiences such as economic hardship on aging. Health knowledge gained through research that ignores the socio-political context may be limited in terms of generalization.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of health and social behavior. - Albany, N.Y., 1967, currens
Publication
Albany, N.Y. : 2011
ISSN
0022-1465 [print]
2150-6000 [online]
DOI
10.1177/0022146510394861
Volume/pages
52 :2 (2011) , p. 262-276
ISI
000291611900008
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Publication type
Subject
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 11.02.2016
Last edited 25.02.2023
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