Depressive Symptoms, Unemployment, and Loss of Income

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have suggested an association between depression and low socioeconomic status, but few have empirically examined the effect of depressive symptoms on income and employment over time.Objective: To determine whether depressive symptoms are associated with subsequent unemployment or loss of family income. Methods:We performed a prospective cohort study of 5115 adults aged 18 to 30 years.These participants included approximately equal numbers of African Americans and whites and men and women from 4 cities in the United States who completed the 1990-1991 examination of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study.For this analysis, we included 2334 participants who were employed full or part time and who reported an annual family income of $25000 or more.Participants completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and were considered to have depressive symptoms if they scored 16 or higher on the 60-point scale.We evaluated self-reported unemployment and annual family income during 5 years of follow-up.