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Many studies have documented an association between low socioeconomic status (SES) and depression, but it has been difficult to determine whether the relation is causal. In a 7-year longitudinal study in Belgium, researchers surveyed 11,909 individuals yearly regarding depressive symptoms and SES (mean, 4.6 annual assessments). Measures of SES were complex and included material standards of living (subjective financial strain, poverty, and a “deprivation index” [e.g., home ownership, income, savings, and living conditions]), skills (education and employment), and social relationships (civic participation and living with a partner).
Longitudinal models focusing on change over a year’s time within individuals showed that increases in financial…