TY - JOUR

T1 - Higher levels of mental wellbeing predict lower risk of common mental disorders in the Danish general population

AU - Santini, Ziggi Ivan

AU - Ekholm, Ola

AU - Koyanagi, Ai

AU - Stewart-Brown, Sarah

AU - Meilstrup, Charlotte

AU - Nielsen, Line

AU - Fusar-Poli, Paolo

AU - Koushede, Vibeke

AU - Thygesen, Lau Caspar

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - BackgroundFew studies have investigated the protective role of higher levels of wellbeing in relation to common mental disorders (CMDs). The objective of this study was to explore the protective role of mental wellbeing at baseline on CMDs during a 12–16 months follow-up period in the Danish general population.MethodsData stem from a Danish nationally-representative panel study of 6629 adults (aged 15+ years) conducted in 2019 and 2020, which was linked to Danish register data. A validated scale (SWEMWBS) was used to assess mental wellbeing, along with pre-defined cut-points for low/moderate/high mental wellbeing. Register-based outcomes were 1) onset of ICD-10 CMDs, and 2) onset or recurrence of antidepressant use. The survey-based outcome was case depression based on a screening tool (PHQ-8 score≥10). Register-based analyses (N = 6624) were conducted with Cox regression, and the survey-based analysis (N = 5000) was conducted with logistic regression.ResultsMental wellbeing was negatively associated with all outcomes, both continuously and dose-dependently. Notably, as compared to low mental wellbeing, moderate mental wellbeing was associated with a 55–68% reduction in risk for all outcomes (onset of ICD-10 CMDs; onset or recurrence of antidepressant use; onset or recurrence of case depression based on the PHQ-8), while high mental wellbeing was associated with a 69–90% reduction in the same outcomes.ConclusionsHigher levels of mental wellbeing are protective against onset or recurrence of CMDs. Future studies are warranted to investigate the effectiveness of universal and targeted approaches to promote mental wellbeing and prevent CMDs.

AB - BackgroundFew studies have investigated the protective role of higher levels of wellbeing in relation to common mental disorders (CMDs). The objective of this study was to explore the protective role of mental wellbeing at baseline on CMDs during a 12–16 months follow-up period in the Danish general population.MethodsData stem from a Danish nationally-representative panel study of 6629 adults (aged 15+ years) conducted in 2019 and 2020, which was linked to Danish register data. A validated scale (SWEMWBS) was used to assess mental wellbeing, along with pre-defined cut-points for low/moderate/high mental wellbeing. Register-based outcomes were 1) onset of ICD-10 CMDs, and 2) onset or recurrence of antidepressant use. The survey-based outcome was case depression based on a screening tool (PHQ-8 score≥10). Register-based analyses (N = 6624) were conducted with Cox regression, and the survey-based analysis (N = 5000) was conducted with logistic regression.ResultsMental wellbeing was negatively associated with all outcomes, both continuously and dose-dependently. Notably, as compared to low mental wellbeing, moderate mental wellbeing was associated with a 55–68% reduction in risk for all outcomes (onset of ICD-10 CMDs; onset or recurrence of antidepressant use; onset or recurrence of case depression based on the PHQ-8), while high mental wellbeing was associated with a 69–90% reduction in the same outcomes.ConclusionsHigher levels of mental wellbeing are protective against onset or recurrence of CMDs. Future studies are warranted to investigate the effectiveness of universal and targeted approaches to promote mental wellbeing and prevent CMDs.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - Public health

KW - Preventive psychology

KW - Mental health

KW - Wellbeing

KW - Common mental disorder

U2 - 10.1016/j.mhp.2022.200233

DO - 10.1016/j.mhp.2022.200233

M3 - Journal article

VL - 26

JO - Mental Health & Prevention

JF - Mental Health & Prevention

M1 - 200233

ER -