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Life satisfaction and mental health problems (18 to 35 years).
D M Fergusson1, G F H McLeod1, L J Horwood1
1Christchurch Health and Development Study,Department of Psychological Medicine,University of Otago,Christchurch,New Zealand.
Psychological Medicine
|March 26, 2015
Summary
Mental health problems and life satisfaction have a strong, two-way relationship. Poor mental health significantly lowers life satisfaction, and lower life satisfaction can worsen mental health over time.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Longitudinal Studies
Background:
- Previous research indicates a strong link between mental health and life satisfaction.
- This study investigates the bidirectional relationship between mental health issues and life satisfaction in a birth cohort from age 18 to 35.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the associations between mental health problems and life satisfaction.
- To determine the direction of causation between mental health and life satisfaction.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Christchurch Health and Development Study, a longitudinal cohort of 1265 individuals.
- Assessed psychiatric disorders (major depression, anxiety, suicidality, alcohol/substance dependence) and life satisfaction at ages 18, 21, 25, 30, and 35 using DSM criteria.
Main Results:
- Significant associations were found between life satisfaction and major depression, anxiety disorder, suicidality, alcohol dependence, and substance dependence.
- After controlling for confounding factors, these associations remained significant for major depression, anxiety disorder, suicidality, and substance dependence.
- Individuals with three or more mental health disorders reported life satisfaction scores nearly 0.60 standard deviations lower than those without mental health problems.
Conclusions:
- Robust, reciprocal associations exist between mental health problems and life satisfaction, even after adjusting for confounding variables.
- Evidence suggests that life satisfaction influences mental disorder, and conversely, mental disorder influences life satisfaction.
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