Mental health amidst multiple crises: trends and sociodemographic risk factors in Austria’s general population
BackgroundIn recent years, mental health in Austria has faced substantial challenges due to a series of both global and regional crises.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess changes in mental health indicators within the Austrian population over time from April 2022 to October 2024 and to identify soc...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1534994/full |
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| author | Elke Humer Elke Humer Christoph Pieh Thomas Probst Carina Dinhof Yvonne Schaffler Marina Zeldovich Marina Zeldovich |
| author_facet | Elke Humer Elke Humer Christoph Pieh Thomas Probst Carina Dinhof Yvonne Schaffler Marina Zeldovich Marina Zeldovich |
| author_sort | Elke Humer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundIn recent years, mental health in Austria has faced substantial challenges due to a series of both global and regional crises.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess changes in mental health indicators within the Austrian population over time from April 2022 to October 2024 and to identify sociodemographic correlates of poor mental health.MethodsTwo cross-sectional online surveys on representative samples of the Austrian general population were conducted at two timepoints: April 2022 (n = 1,032) and October 2024 (n = 2,025). Mental health indicators, including depression, anxiety, insomnia, alcohol misuse, and stress, were measured using validated scales. Sociodemographic data were collected to examine associations with mental health indicators. Chi-squared tests and t-tests were conducted to compare mental health indicators between 2022 and 2024, and multivariable logistic regression models were applied to examine associations with sociodemographic data.ResultsClinically relevant symptoms of depression and high stress decreased from 2022 to 2024 (depression from 28.3% to 21.6%, stress from 56.3% to 51.0%; p < 0.01), while other symptoms remained stable. Sociodemographic analysis revealed that female gender, younger age, lower income, unemployment, migration background and lack of partnership were associated with higher odds for several mental health issues.ConclusionsFindings suggest small improvements in mental health from 2022 to 2024 and identified sociodemographic risk factors linked to mental health vulnerabilities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-032183dab8d0400d9fb9d5007746188a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-032183dab8d0400d9fb9d5007746188a2025-08-20T02:45:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-02-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15349941534994Mental health amidst multiple crises: trends and sociodemographic risk factors in Austria’s general populationElke Humer0Elke Humer1Christoph Pieh2Thomas Probst3Carina Dinhof4Yvonne Schaffler5Marina Zeldovich6Marina Zeldovich7Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education, Krems, AustriaFaculty for Psychotherapy Science, Sigmund Freud University Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education, Krems, AustriaDivision of Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Paris Lodron University Salzburg, Salzburg, AustriaDivision of Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Paris Lodron University Salzburg, Salzburg, AustriaDepartment for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University for Continuing Education, Krems, AustriaFaculty for Psychotherapy Science, Sigmund Freud University Vienna, Vienna, AustriaInstitute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, AustriaBackgroundIn recent years, mental health in Austria has faced substantial challenges due to a series of both global and regional crises.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess changes in mental health indicators within the Austrian population over time from April 2022 to October 2024 and to identify sociodemographic correlates of poor mental health.MethodsTwo cross-sectional online surveys on representative samples of the Austrian general population were conducted at two timepoints: April 2022 (n = 1,032) and October 2024 (n = 2,025). Mental health indicators, including depression, anxiety, insomnia, alcohol misuse, and stress, were measured using validated scales. Sociodemographic data were collected to examine associations with mental health indicators. Chi-squared tests and t-tests were conducted to compare mental health indicators between 2022 and 2024, and multivariable logistic regression models were applied to examine associations with sociodemographic data.ResultsClinically relevant symptoms of depression and high stress decreased from 2022 to 2024 (depression from 28.3% to 21.6%, stress from 56.3% to 51.0%; p < 0.01), while other symptoms remained stable. Sociodemographic analysis revealed that female gender, younger age, lower income, unemployment, migration background and lack of partnership were associated with higher odds for several mental health issues.ConclusionsFindings suggest small improvements in mental health from 2022 to 2024 and identified sociodemographic risk factors linked to mental health vulnerabilities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1534994/fulldepressionanxietyinsomniaalcohol misusestresspandemic aftermath |
| spellingShingle | Elke Humer Elke Humer Christoph Pieh Thomas Probst Carina Dinhof Yvonne Schaffler Marina Zeldovich Marina Zeldovich Mental health amidst multiple crises: trends and sociodemographic risk factors in Austria’s general population Frontiers in Psychiatry depression anxiety insomnia alcohol misuse stress pandemic aftermath |
| title | Mental health amidst multiple crises: trends and sociodemographic risk factors in Austria’s general population |
| title_full | Mental health amidst multiple crises: trends and sociodemographic risk factors in Austria’s general population |
| title_fullStr | Mental health amidst multiple crises: trends and sociodemographic risk factors in Austria’s general population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental health amidst multiple crises: trends and sociodemographic risk factors in Austria’s general population |
| title_short | Mental health amidst multiple crises: trends and sociodemographic risk factors in Austria’s general population |
| title_sort | mental health amidst multiple crises trends and sociodemographic risk factors in austria s general population |
| topic | depression anxiety insomnia alcohol misuse stress pandemic aftermath |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1534994/full |
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