TY - JOUR
T1 - Associations between socioeconomic factors and depression in Sri Lanka
T2 - The role of gene-environment interplay
AU - Badini, Isabella
AU - Jayaweera, Kaushayla
AU - Pannala, Gayani
AU - Adikari, Anushka
AU - Siribaddana, Sisira
AU - Sumathipala, Athula
AU - McAdams, Tom A.
AU - Harber-Aschan, Lisa
AU - Hotopf, Matthew
AU - Rijsdijk, Fruhling
AU - Zavos, Helena
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was funded in whole, or in part, by the Wellcome Trust [Grant number 093206/Z/10/Z ]. For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manscript version arising from this submission. TAM is supported by a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellowship ( 220382/Z/20/Z . IB is supported by the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and King's College London member of the ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership in Interdisciplinary Social Science ( ST11872 ).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023
PY - 2023/11/1
Y1 - 2023/11/1
N2 - Background: Low socioeconomic status is a risk factor for depression. The nature and magnitude of associations can differ cross-culturally and is influenced by a range of contextual factors. We examined the aetiology of socioeconomic indicators and depression symptoms and investigated whether socioeconomic indicators moderate genetic and environmental influences on depression symptoms in a Sri Lankan population. Methods: Data were from a population-based sample of twins (N = 2934) and singletons (N = 1035) in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Standard of living, educational attainment, and financial strain were used to index socioeconomic status. Depression symptoms were assessed using the Revised Beck Depression Inventory. Structural equation modelling explored genetic and environmental influences on socioeconomic indicators and depression symptoms and moderation of aetiological influences on depression symptoms by socioeconomic status. Results: Depression symptoms were associated with lower standard of living, lower educational attainment, and financial strain. Sex differences were evident in the aetiology of standard of living, with a small contribution of genetic influences in females. Educational attainment was moderately heritable in both males and females. Total variance in depression was greater among less socioeconomically advantaged individuals. Modest evidence of moderation of the aetiology of depression by standard of living and education was observed. Limitations: While the sample is representative of individuals living in Colombo District, it may not be representative of different regions of Sri Lanka. Conclusions: The aetiology of depression varies across socioeconomic contexts, suggesting a potential mechanism through which socioeconomic disadvantage increases the risk for depression in Sri Lanka. Findings have implications for cross-cultural investigations of the role of socioeconomic factors in depression and for identifying targets for social interventions.
AB - Background: Low socioeconomic status is a risk factor for depression. The nature and magnitude of associations can differ cross-culturally and is influenced by a range of contextual factors. We examined the aetiology of socioeconomic indicators and depression symptoms and investigated whether socioeconomic indicators moderate genetic and environmental influences on depression symptoms in a Sri Lankan population. Methods: Data were from a population-based sample of twins (N = 2934) and singletons (N = 1035) in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Standard of living, educational attainment, and financial strain were used to index socioeconomic status. Depression symptoms were assessed using the Revised Beck Depression Inventory. Structural equation modelling explored genetic and environmental influences on socioeconomic indicators and depression symptoms and moderation of aetiological influences on depression symptoms by socioeconomic status. Results: Depression symptoms were associated with lower standard of living, lower educational attainment, and financial strain. Sex differences were evident in the aetiology of standard of living, with a small contribution of genetic influences in females. Educational attainment was moderately heritable in both males and females. Total variance in depression was greater among less socioeconomically advantaged individuals. Modest evidence of moderation of the aetiology of depression by standard of living and education was observed. Limitations: While the sample is representative of individuals living in Colombo District, it may not be representative of different regions of Sri Lanka. Conclusions: The aetiology of depression varies across socioeconomic contexts, suggesting a potential mechanism through which socioeconomic disadvantage increases the risk for depression in Sri Lanka. Findings have implications for cross-cultural investigations of the role of socioeconomic factors in depression and for identifying targets for social interventions.
KW - Depression
KW - Gene-environment interaction
KW - Socioeconomic status
KW - Sri Lanka
KW - Twin studies
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85166251949&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2023.07.084
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2023.07.084
M3 - Article
C2 - 37467802
AN - SCOPUS:85166251949
SN - 0165-0327
VL - 340
SP - 1
EP - 9
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
ER -