Multidimensional poverty and depression among with and without Disabilities

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, poverty has been measured based on an individual income, however it is now accepted that income gives too narrow a view of an individual's overall living standards and other indicators of living standards are needed. Multidimensional poverty measures are a useful tool for policymakers in order to identify target populations for policies aiming to improve equity and reduce chronic disadvantage. METHODS: We analyzed the Korea Welfare Panel Study, a nationally representative survey. Poverty variables were selected based on monetary and non-monetary categories. The six poverty dimensions were income, education, housing, medical care, social relationships, and employment. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Korean version of CES-D-11. RESULTS: All dimensions of poverty and depression had higher rates in people with disability than non-disabilities in the order of income (+33.1%p), education (+27.2%p), social relationships (+9.7%p), and medical care (+6.5%p). Depression rate was also higher for people with disability (p < .0001). The factors influencing depression of people with and without disability by multidimensional poverty were somewhat different. The disabled and non-disabilities with poverty of social relationships were equally more likely to have a depression (aOR=7.33, <.0001, aOR=3.85, <.0001), however, the non-disabled with medical care poverty were more likely to have a depression (aOR=6.76, <.0001) than without medical care poverty, and the disabled with employment poverty were about 3 times more depressed (aOR=3.67, <.0001) than with employment poverty. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggest that access to various aspects of life, as well as income support, should be considered in policy making for resolving the poverty problems and mental health among people with disabilities. KEY MESSAGES: • There were disparities in the prevalence of multidimensional poverty and depression in the people with disabilities, especially those with severe disabilities. • The main factors influencing depression of people with disability by multidimensional poverty were social relationships and employment poverty.