Socio-Economic Development and Mental Health: Case Study of the Spanish Region of Aragon (2010–20)

Abstract

Introduction: Considering health as a cross-cutting element of all public policies leads to rethinking its interactions with the environment in which people live. The collection of large volumes of data by public administrations offers the opportunity to monitor and analyze the possible associations between health and territory. The increase in the incidence and prevalence of mental health diseases, particularly depression, justifies the need to develop studies that seek to identify links with the socioeconomic and environmental setting. Objective: The objective of this study is to explain the behavior of the depression in a mediterranean region of Northeastern Spain from an ecological and diachronic perspective. Methods: We conducted a correlation and multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify explanatory factors of the prevalence of depression in 2010 and 2020 and in the variation rate. Potential explanatory factors are related to the socioeconomic status and to the territorial development level. Results: The regression models retained both socioeconomic and territorial development variables as predictors of the prevalence in both years and in the variation rate. Rural areas seem to play a protective role against the prevalence. Conclusion: It is under the territorial prism that epidemiological studies could offer useful guidelines for proactive decision-making. The integration of data on diseases and territory must be considered when developing policies for the creation of healthier environments and for directing health services with more specific resources to where they may be needed.