Table 3 Simple linear associations between possible explanatory variables and mental health indicators
VariableDepressive symptomsPerceived stress scale
ββ
Mental health
    Depressive symptoms†–0.37**
    Perceived stress scale‡1.13**–
Demographic
    Female gender1.882.04*
    Age (years)0.03−0.03
    Marital status
        Not married (reference)––
        Married1.821.08
    Race
        African (reference)––
        Multiracial−0.312.33*
        Indian1.272.27
        White−9.62*−3.32
    Province
        Eastern Cape (reference)––
        Western Cape−2.910.50
        KwaZulu-Natal−2.26−0.22
    Number in household0.48*0.24†
Socioeconomic status
    Education
        <G7 (reference)––
        G8–G12−4.92*−0.21
        >G12−7.56**−1.06
    Regular employment−4.02*−1.27
    Sum of non-employment incomes3.37**0.89***
    Total income past 30 days−1.73*−0.31
    Total income past 30 days (adjusted for household size)−2.52**−0.61
Subjective social status
    Place on community ladder−2.02**−0.78**
    Place on country ladder−1.09**−0.54*
    Place on creditworthiness ladder−1.25**−0.65**
Stressful life events
    Events not incl birth and catastrophe1.42*0.33
    Birth6.20*4.94**
    Catastrophe9.42**4.76**
Decision-making
    Respondent alone1.11**0.53*
    Respondent with partner−1.11**−0.50*
    Partner/other alone0.520.21

  • *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.10.

  • †Depressive symptoms measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.

  • ‡Perceived stress measured with Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale.31