May 31, 2026 08:00:00

Research shows a close relationship between local economic conditions and the mental health of residents.

Previous research has shown that economic conditions are closely linked to mental health, with studies reporting that

mental health improves as income increases . A new study conducted in the United States has shown that the economic conditions of a region are closely related to the mental health of its residents.

Economic factors associated with county-level mental health – United States, 2019 | PLOS One
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0300939

Is bad mental health an economic problem at its core?
https://www.psypost.org/county-level-wealth-and-wages-are-strongly-linked-to-community-mental-health/

Many people around the world suffer from mental illnesses such as depression, and even without a formal diagnosis, stress negatively impacts both physical and mental health, increasing the risk of chronic illness. Furthermore, deteriorating mental health leads to decreased productivity and increased treatment costs, placing a significant burden on national economies.

Recent public health experts are increasingly adopting a socio-ecological perspective on people's health. This approach views people's health as a combination of individual biological factors and multiple environmental factors, such as community resources and national policies. In this model, economic stability and employment status become major environmental factors shaping health.

A research team led by Michelle Boldac, a researcher at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), analyzed the relationship between worsening county-level mental health in the United States and economic factors using 2019 data, in order to identify economic factors that influence mental health.

The variables investigated by the research team included unemployment rates, the proportion of remote workers, average commute times, and median housing prices, which covered a wide range of local financial characteristics. They also examined indicators of income inequality in the region, such as the prevalence of public health insurance and the proportion of residents receiving federal food assistance.

Population estimates obtained from a nationwide behavioral survey were used as indicators to measure people's mental health. Participants reported the number of days they experienced mental distress such as stress, depressive symptoms, or emotional problems in the past month, and the research team tracked the percentage of participants who experienced mental distress for 14 days or more in a month.

The analysis revealed that the average prevalence of mental health problems at the county level was 16%, with particularly high rates in

the Appalachian Mountains , the Deep South , and parts of the Southwest. The prevalence of psychological distress was relatively lower in the Midwest and North.

Then, when the research team evaluated the variables using a statistical method called dominance analysis , they showed that approximately 70% of the variability in the rate of mental health deterioration observed across counties could be explained by economic variables.

The four economic factors that stood out the most were: 'median household income,' 'percentage of residents relying on federal disability benefits,' 'percentage of people with a college degree,' and 'percentage of households utilizing federal food assistance.'

Of these factors, the most influential was 'median household income,' and it was consistently observed that the higher the median income, the better the mental health. It is thought that having financial security allows people to secure a safe environment such as a home, purchase nutritious food, and avoid the stress caused by material hardship, all of which contribute to this result.

Educational attainment has also shown a significant correlation as a protective factor, with counties with a higher proportion of college graduates reporting much better mental health among their residents. Psychology media outlet PsyPost noted that 'higher education generally not only opens doors to jobs with better pay and healthcare benefits, but also expands social networks that can help alleviate mental distress.'

Furthermore, the survey revealed that regional workplace environment characteristics also influenced the results. Regions with a high percentage of remote workers had lower rates of mental health deterioration, which may reflect the increased time spent in a comfortable environment due to remote work, making it easier to have time for family and personal activities. Conversely, the longer the average commute time, the higher the rate of mental health deterioration, which is thought to be because long commutes deprive people of time to relax and interact with others.

Differences were also observed between urban and rural areas, with a correlation found in urban areas where higher housing prices correlated with better mental health among residents. This result is likely due to the fact that upscale residential areas often have abundant parks, well-developed recreational facilities, and access to high-quality medical services.

The research team points out that relying solely on improving individual factors is insufficient to resolve the nation's mental health crisis. Their findings suggest that systematic economic reforms may be highly effective in improving psychological well-being. In other words, social improvements such as expanding access to education and raising the minimum wage could bring significant benefits to the mental health of the population.