Industrial legacies: a population survey study of mental health disparities across generations in post-coal Wales
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.The study found that areas with a history of coal mining are linked to worse mental health outcomes, particularly for older generations and women. These findings highlight the lasting mental health impact of deindustrialisation.
Area Of Science
- Public Health
- Environmental Health
- Sociology
Background
- Economic transitions can cause deindustrialisation, mirroring historical patterns.
- Understanding deindustrialisation's health impacts is crucial for preventing long-term health issues in postindustrial communities.
- This study examines mental health in Welsh coalfield communities as a case of these health legacies.
Purpose Of The Study
- To investigate the association between historical coal mining activity and mental health.
- To explore how this association varies by generational cohort and sex.
Main Methods
- Utilised data from 180,462 respondents (Welsh Health Survey, 2003-2015) and 57,331 respondents (National Survey for Wales, 2016-2023).
- Linked survey data to spatial data on historical coal mining at the middle super output area level.
- Employed linear mixed-effects models to analyse self-reported mental health and well-being in relation to mining extent, generation, and sex.
Main Results
- A significant association was observed between greater mining extent and poorer self-reported mental health in both datasets.
- The association was most pronounced in generations that experienced the decline of the mining industry.
- A stronger association between mining and mental health was found for women than men in older data, but this gender difference was not consistently observed in newer data.
Conclusions
- Deindustrialisation leaves an enduring mental health legacy, influenced by geography, generation, and sex.
- The mental health consequences of deindustrialisation must be considered in industrial policy and mitigation strategies for future economic transitions.
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