Association of Psychosocial Factors With Risk of Chronic Diseases: A Nationwide Longitudinal Study

Berhe W Sahle; Wen Chen; Yohannes Adama Melaku; Blessing J Akombi; Lal B Rawal; Andre M N Renzaho

doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2019.09.007

Association of Psychosocial Factors With Risk of Chronic Diseases: A Nationwide Longitudinal Study

Am J Prev Med. 2020 Feb;58(2):e39-e50. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.09.007.

Authors

Berhe W Sahle¹, Wen Chen², Yohannes Adama Melaku³, Blessing J Akombi⁴, Lal B Rawal⁵, Andre M N Renzaho⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: b.sahle@westernsydney.edu.au.
² Faculty of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Center for Migrant Health Policy, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
³ Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
⁴ School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁵ School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁶ School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

PMID: 31959325
DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.09.007

Abstract

Introduction: This study examines the prospective association between a range of psychosocial factors and common noncommunicable diseases.

Methods: In October 2018, nationally representative data were analyzed from 11,637 adults followed annually between 2003 and 2013. Participants reported on psychosocial factors they experienced in the 12 months preceding each wave. The onset of noncommunicable diseases was defined based on self-reported physician's diagnosis. Generalized estimating equations estimated the ORs and 95% CIs of psychosocial factors on noncommunicable diseases, controlling for other confounders.

Results: Social support index was inversely associated with the onset of anxiety or depression in men (OR=0.95, 95% CI=0.93, 0.98) and women (OR=0.96, 95% CI=0.95, 0.98) and with emphysema in women (OR=0.96, 95% CI=0.93, 0.99). Psychological distress was positively associated with the onset of heart diseases (OR=2.38, 95% CI=1.16, 4.89 for men; OR=2.30, 95% CI=1.10, 4.78 for women), emphysema (OR=1.11, 95% CI=1.03, 1.20 for men; OR=1.08, 95% CI=1.04, 1.12 for women), and circulatory diseases (OR=1.04, 95% CI=1.02, 1.08 for women). Financial stress increased the onset of anxiety or depression (OR=1.36, 95% CI=1.26, 1.63 for men; OR=1.30, 95% CI=1.10, 1.52 for women) and type 2 diabetes in women (OR=1.60, 95% CI=1.18, 2.18). Significant associations of parenting stress and the likelihood of the onset of anxiety or depression were only evident in women.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that several adverse psychosocial risk factors are independently associated with the onset of noncommunicable diseases.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Anxiety / psychology
Chronic Disease / psychology*
Depression / psychology
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / psychology
Female
Heart Diseases / psychology
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Sex Factors
Social Support*
Stress, Psychological / psychology*
Surveys and Questionnaires