Mental Health among residents of Nyíregyháza

Abstract

Introduction: Mental health cannot be separated from demographic variables, lifestyle factors and physical parameters, because they interact dynamically. The aim of this study was to reveal what indicators the population of the city of Nyíregyháza has in terms of mental health: how inhabitants describe themselves in the construct of well-being and mental health, how stressful their lives are, if they are living meaningful lives.
Methods: Three hundred and eighty-six residents of Nyíregyháza participated in this study (male: 142, 36,8%, female: 244, 63,2%; mean age: 49,96 years). The following measures were used: WHO Well-Being Scale,Short FormofBeck Depression Questionnaire, the life meaning subscale from the Brief Stress and Coping Inventory, Perceived Stress Questionnaire, Mental Health Questionnaire and Self-esteem for Health. Descriptive statistics, independent T-test, ANOVA and correlation analysis were used.
Results: The mean value of the Well-BeingScale decreases with deterioration in health status and increases with income (p<0.0001). The severity of depressive symptoms increases significantly with higher age (p=0.002) and worsening of health (p<0.0001). The mean value of life meaning subscale increases significantly with the increase of income (p=0.048) and with an improvement in health status (p<0.0001). Significantly higher stress levels were found for those who were rated their own health very poor (p<0.005) and who had a greater mental impairment (p<0.0001). The level of perceived stress and mental decline among income categories is significantly higher in the upper middle class.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that older age, poor health, and financial status have a negative impact on mental health. Therefore, psychiatric support for the elderly, patients and people in financial disadvantages should be given special attention to health and social care professionals. Based onour analysis, the subjective burden of living life seems to be the determining factor, not the objective demographic indicators.