How much of the effect of disability acquisition on mental health is mediated through employment and income? A causal mediation analysis quantifying interventional indirect effects using data from four waves of an Australian cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

There is evidence that disability acquisition causes a decline in mental health, but few studies have examined the causal mechanisms through which the effect operates. This study used a novel approach to mediation analysis to quantify interventional indirect effects (IIEs) through employment and income.

Design and setting

We used four waves of longitudinal data (2011-2014) from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey, a nationally representative survey of Australian households.

Participants

Working aged individuals who acquired a disability (n=233) were compared with those who remained disability-free in all four waves (n=5419).

Primary outcome measure

Self-reported mental health was measured using the Mental Health Inventory su

SUBMITTER: Aitken Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8609928 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature