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The effects of US state income inequality and alcohol policies on symptoms of depression and alcohol dependence

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  • Henderson, Claire
  • Liu, Xinhua
  • Diez Roux, Ana V.
  • Link, Bruce G.
  • Hasin, Deborah

Abstract

Mental health is likely to be influenced by contextual variables that emerge only at the level of the group. We studied the effect of two such group-level variables, within-state income inequality and alcohol tax policy, on symptoms of current depression and alcohol dependence in a US national sample, controlling for state-level and individual characteristics. A cross-sectional US national probability sample provided the individual-level data. State income data were obtained from the 1990 US census. The Gini coefficient (raw and adjusted) indicated income inequality. Outcome measures included current symptoms of depression and alcohol dependence. Controlling for individual-level variables and state median income, the odds of depressive symptoms was not positively associated with state income inequality. Controlling for individual-level variables, state median income and alcohol distribution method, a weak negative association between Gini and alcohol dependence was observed in women, but this association disappeared after additional adjustment for beer tax. No association was observed in men. Higher state beer tax was significantly associated with lower prevalence of alcohol dependence symptoms for both men and women. The results suggest that state income inequality does not increase the experience of alcohol dependence or depression symptoms. However, evidence was found for a protective effect of increased beer taxation against alcohol dependence symptoms, suggesting the need to further consider the impact of alcohol policies on alcohol use disorders.

Suggested Citation

  • Henderson, Claire & Liu, Xinhua & Diez Roux, Ana V. & Link, Bruce G. & Hasin, Deborah, 2004. "The effects of US state income inequality and alcohol policies on symptoms of depression and alcohol dependence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 58(3), pages 565-575, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:58:y:2004:i:3:p:565-575
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Heikki Hiilamo, 2014. "Is Income Inequality ‘Toxic for Mental Health’? An Ecological Study on Municipal Level Risk Factors for Depression," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(3), pages 1-8, March.
    2. Godoy, Ricardo A. & Reyes-García, Victoria & McDade, Thomas & Huanca, Tomás & Leonard, William R. & Tanner, Susan & Vadez, Vincent, 2006. "Does village inequality in modern income harm the psyche? Anger, fear, sadness, and alcohol consumption in a pre-industrial society," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(2), pages 359-372, July.
    3. Jirapramukpitak, Tawanchai & Abas, Melanie & Tangchonlatip, Kanchana & Punpuing, Sureeporn, 2014. "The effect of asset-based wealth inequality on problem drinking among rural Thai elders: A prospective population-based cohort study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 107-114.
    4. Roman Pabayo & Daniel M. Cook & Gregory Farmer & Beth E. Molnar, 2021. "Neighborhood Income Inequality and Alcohol Use among Adolescents in Boston, Massachusetts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-13, August.
    5. Saloni Dev & Daniel Kim, 2020. "State-Level Income Inequality and County-Level Social Capital in Relation to Individual-Level Depression in Middle-Aged Adults: A Lagged Multilevel Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-12, July.
    6. Wilkinson, Richard G & Pickett, Kate E., 2006. "Income inequality and population health: A review and explanation of the evidence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(7), pages 1768-1784, April.
    7. Hossein Zare & Nicholas S. Meyerson & Chineze Adania Nwankwo & Roland J. Thorpe, 2022. "How Income and Income Inequality Drive Depressive Symptoms in U.S. Adults, Does Sex Matter: 2005–2016," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-15, May.

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