Economic vulnerability affects emotional health throughout life

How do economic vulnerability and stress affect our emotional health in old age? A new study from Jönköping University shows that economic conditions during both childhood and adulthood play a crucial role in our mental health later in life.

Research shows that people who have experienced high levels of economic vulnerability and stress in both childhood and adulthood are more likely to suffer from anxiety, loneliness and depressive symptoms from the age of 50.

"Having good economic conditions in both childhood and adulthood contributes to better emotional health later in life, while high economic vulnerability and economic stress in both childhood and adulthood contributes to poorer emotional health," says Charlotta Nilsen, Assistant Professor of Gerontology at the School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University.

The negative effect of financial vulnerability on emotional health can be linked to the long-term stress that financial difficulties bring. Chronic stress affects the brain and can lead to long-term changes in how we deal with emotions and adversity. Financial stress can also affect access to social resources, such as support from family and friends, which can further exacerbate feelings of loneliness and mental health problems.

Good childhood finances can delay mental health problems

The study also shows that those who had a secure financial situation in childhood generally do not show an increase in anxiety and loneliness until after the age of 70. According to the researchers, this can be interpreted as meaning that a better financial situation in childhood can act as a buffer that delays the increase in anxiety and loneliness in late adulthood that is found in the current sample.

The explanation may be that a stable economic upbringing provides individuals with better strategies to cope with stress and uncertainty later in life. Early life experiences often shape our ability to cope with difficulties and form social relationships, which in turn can have a protective effect against emotional challenges in old age.

Economic improvement has positive effects - even late in life

On the positive side, an improved financial situation in adulthood can reduce the negative impact of financial stress in childhood. The study shows that individuals who experienced financial difficulties in childhood but later became more financially stable experience better emotional health after 70 years.

"Although we see long-term positive effects on emotional health of having had good economic conditions during childhood, we also see that lower economic vulnerability and economic stress in adulthood contribute to better emotional health regardless of economic situation in childhood. This shows that it is never too late to influence emotional health by improving economic conditions," says Deborah Finkel, Professor of Psychology at the School of Health and Welfare.

The researchers emphasize the importance of society and policy makers taking these findings seriously.

"There is evidence that the number of years lost due to economic adversity is equal to or greater than the number of years lost due to major chronic disease risk factors. The economic situation can be influenced by local and national policies, and policy makers need to recognize that early economic disadvantage can have long-lasting effects on physical and emotional health," says Finkel.

Research with a long follow-up period

The study is based on data from 1 596 adults aged 45 to 98 years from the Swedish Twin Registry and has a follow-up period of 25 years. By using retrospective data, the researchers have been able to analyze how financial exposure in childhood affects individuals' emotional health well into old age. The study also provides a unique insight into how lifelong economic circumstances can affect mental well-being and shows the importance of providing support to vulnerable groups from a young age.

Read the scientific article here.