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Social residualization is characterized by people moving out of a less desirable community, leaving behind the people who are less enabled. Dissolution of family structure, increased poverty rate, and diminished social support for the left-behind population could happen consequently. Socioeconomic disadvantages, income inequality, and gender-based violence also influences female’s wellbeing.
Previous studies regarding social residualization only focused on individual risk factors of the residences and their impact on mental well-being. By adopting a Health Ecological Model, the current study aims to examine how the social determinants were associated with the mental well-being of female in a residualized area in Hong Kong.
Method:
One thousand and sixty four females were recruited (56.4% were aged 56 or above, 52.9% were married, and 56.8% were homemaker or retired) from a social service organization located in a residualized area in Hong Kong, where public housing concentrated, and the total population has decreased 6% in the last ten years. Participants were invited to complete a questionnaire composed of (i) socio-demographic items such as age and occupation, (ii) 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (α=. 0.91, 0.84, and 0.90 respectively); (iii) seventeen self-constructed items regarding positive coping (α=.48), negative coping (α=.62), and healthy lifestyle (α=.64).
Results:
Results revealed that more than 16.9% of female participants experienced mild and moderate levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Linear regression revealed that those aged between 18 and 25 (β = .18, t= 4.20, p < .01), on Comprehensive Socia Securityl Assistance (β = .056, t= 2.08, p < .05), and higher use of negative coping (β = .28, t= 9.63, p < .01) significantly predicted higher stress. More adoption of healthy lifestyles (β = .-.29, t= -9.83, p < .01), predicted lower stress. Participants aged between 18 and 25 (β = .16, t= 3.55, p < .01), unemployed (β = .081, t= 2.58, p < .01), and more use of negative coping (β = .28, t= 9.08, p < .01) were predictors of higher anxiety. More adoption of positive coping (β = -.06, t= -2.10, p < .05) and healthy lifestyle (β = .-.24, t= -7.86, p < .01), predicted lower anxiety. Participants aged between 18 and 25 (β = .21, t= 5.06, p < .01), unemployed (β = .096, t= 3.34, p < .01), and more use of negative coping (β = .37, t= 13.40, p < .01) were predictors of higher depression. More adoption of positive coping (β = -.09, t= -3.51, p < .01) and healthy lifestyle (β = .-.25, t= -8.88, p < .01) predicted lower depression.
Conclusion:
Younger women in the residualized area were found to have higher emotional distress, which revealed the neglected area of their psychological needs. Community education on psychological health, and intervention centered on integrated wellness are recommended for practices. In addition, exploration of coping strategies would facilitate helping professionals identifying high risk cases and understanding the severity of emotional distress.