Effects of the economic crisis and social support on health-related quality of life: first wave of a longitudinal study in Spain (original) (raw)

Economic recession affects quality of life by increasing rates of mental disorders in particular. Social support can be an important protective factor. To estimate the impact of being personally affected by an economic crisis on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), taking into account the possible buffering effect of perceived social support. Data from the first wave (March 2012 to November 2012) of the 'Social Support and Quality of Life Study', a longitudinal study carried out in a primary health care centre in a deprived neighbourhood of Barcelona, Spain. A total of 143 participants were assessed using the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey, the List of Threatening Experiences and the Duke Social Support scales. The effect of economic crisis on mental and physical HRQoL was assessed using ordinary least squares regression models to test the interaction between social support and having experienced an economic crisis. There was no statistical association between having su...