Abstract
Depression is responsible for a large burden of disability in the USA. We estimated the prevalence of depression in the New York City (NYC) adult population in 2013–14 and examined associations with demographics, health behaviors, and employment status. Data from the 2013–14 New York City Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a population-based examination study, were analyzed, and 1459 participants met the inclusion criteria for this analysis. We defined current symptomatic depression by a Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score ≥ 10. Overall, 8.3% of NYC adults had current symptomatic depression. New Yorkers with current symptomatic depression were significantly more likely to be female, Latino, and unemployed yet not looking for work; they were also significantly more likely to have less than a high school education and to live in a high-poverty neighborhood. Socioeconomic inequalities in mental health persist in NYC and highlight the need for better diagnosis and treatment.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank Rhoda Schlamm for editorial assistance. The authors also thank the many people at the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene and the City University of New York who provided support to the survey, the dedicated field staff who helped screen and interview participants, and the NYC HANES participants who made the study possible. Support for NYC HANES 2013-14 was primarily provided by the de Beaumont Foundation, with additional support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Robin Hood, the New York State Health Foundation, Quest Diagnostics, and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
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Kepler, K.L., Perlman, S.E., Chernov, C. et al. The Burden of Depression in New York City Adults: Results from the 2013–14 NYC Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. J Urban Health 95, 832–836 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-018-0283-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-018-0283-1