RESEARCH REPORT

Living arrangements and mental health in Finland

Kaisla Joutsenniemi¹, Tuija Martelin¹, Pekka Martikainen², Sami Pirkola³, Seppo Koskinen¹

¹ National Public Health Institute (KTL), Department of Health and Functional Capacity, Finland
² Population Research Unit, Department of Sociology, University of Helsinki, Finland
³ National Public Health Institute, Department for Mental Health and Alcohol Research, Finland and Mental Health Group, Health and Social Services Division, STAKES/(National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health), Finland

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr K Joutsenniemi
National Public Health Institute (KTL), Department of Health and Functional Capacity, Mannerheimintie 166, 00300 Helsinki, Finland; kaisla.joutsenniemi{at}ktl.fi

Background: Non-married persons are known to have poor mental health compared with married persons. Health differences between marital status groups may largely arise from corresponding differences in interpersonal social bonds. However, official marital status mirrors the social reality of persons to a decreasing extent, and living arrangements may be a better measure of social bonds. Little is known about mental health in different living arrangement groups. This study aims to establish the extent and determinants of mental health differences by living arrangement in terms of psychological distress (GHQ) and DSM-IV psychiatric disorders (CIDI).

Methods: Data were used from the nationally representative cross sectional health 2000 survey, conducted in 2000–1 in Finland. Altogether 4685 participants (80%) aged 30–64 years were included in these analyses; comprehensive information was available on measures of mental health and living arrangements. Living arrangements were measured as follows: married, cohabiting, living with other(s) than a partner, and living alone.

Results: Compared with the married, persons living alone and those living with other(s) than a partner were approximately twice as likely to have anxiety or depressive disorders. Cohabiters did not differ from the married. In men, psychological distress was similarly associated with living arrangements. Unemployment, lack of social support, and alcohol consumption attenuated the excess psychological distress and psychiatric morbidity of persons living alone and of those living with other(s) than a partner by about 10%–50% each.

Conclusions: Living arrangements are strongly associated with mental health, particularly among men. Information on living arrangements, social support, unemployment, and alcohol use may facilitate early stage recognition of poor mental health in primary health care.

Keywords: living arrangements; marital status; psychological distress; psychiatric disorders

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