Impact of Working Poverty on Mental Health in Switzerland
Author Information
Author(s): Stefan Vetter, Jerome Endrass, Ivo Schweizer, Hsun-Mei Teng, Wulf Rossler, William T Gallo
Primary Institution: University of Zurich
Hypothesis
Working poverty will be correlated with poorer psychological health and higher likelihood of unmet need.
Conclusion
Working poverty, particularly defined by restricted standard of living, negatively affects psychological well-being and increases the risk of unmet mental health needs among Swiss workers.
Supporting Evidence
- Restricted standard of living was significantly negatively correlated with psychological well-being.
- Working poverty was associated with a 50% increased risk of unmet mental health need.
- Women experienced a more significant impact on psychological well-being from restricted standard of living compared to men.
Takeaway
If people in Switzerland can't afford basic things, they might feel sad or anxious, and many might not get the help they need for their mental health.
Methodology
This cross-sectional study used data from the Swiss Household Panel, analyzing the relationship between working poverty and psychological well-being using Generalized Estimating Equations and logistic regression models.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from self-reported data and the inability to capture the full complexity of the poverty-health relationship.
Limitations
The study's cross-sectional design limits causal inferences, and the psychological well-being measure has not been validated against clinical assessments.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged 20-59, with an average age of 39 years, and included a nearly even split of men and women, with 60% married.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.17 – 2.06
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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