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Curr Epidemiol Rep. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2017 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as:
Curr Epidemiol Rep. 2016 Mar; 3(1): 81–91.
Published online 2016 Feb 3. doi: 10.1007/s40471-016-0068-6
PMCID: PMC4880023
NIHMSID: NIHMS762681
PMID: 27239427
Health Impacts of the Great Recession: A Critical Review
Claire Margerison-Zilko, PhD,
1 Sidra Goldman-Mellor, PhD,2 April Falconi, PhD,3 and Janelle Downing, PhD4
Author information Copyright and License information Disclaimer
The publisher's final edited version of this article is available free at Curr Epidemiol Rep
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Abstract
The severity, sudden onset, and multipronged nature of the Great Recession (2007–2009) provided a unique opportunity to examine the health impacts of macroeconomic downturn. We comprehensively review empirical literature examining the relationship between the Recession and mental and physical health outcomes in developed nations. Overall, studies reported detrimental impacts of the Recession on health, particularly mental health. Macro- and individual-level employment- and housing-related sequelae of the Recession were associated with declining fertility and self-rated health, and increasing morbidity, psychological distress, and suicide, although traffic fatalities and population-level alcohol consumption declined. Health impacts were stronger among men and racial/ethnic minorities. Importantly, strong social safety nets in some European countries appear to have buffered those populations from negative health effects. This literature, however, still faces multiple methodological challenges, and more time may be needed to observe the Recession’s full health impact. We conclude with suggestions for future work in this field.
Published in final edited form as:
Curr Epidemiol Rep. 2016 Mar; 3(1): 81–91.
Published online 2016 Feb 3. doi: 10.1007/s40471-016-0068-6
PMCID: PMC4880023
NIHMSID: NIHMS762681
PMID: 27239427
Health Impacts of the Great Recession: A Critical Review
Claire Margerison-Zilko, PhD,
1 Sidra Goldman-Mellor, PhD,2 April Falconi, PhD,3 and Janelle Downing, PhD4Author information Copyright and License information Disclaimer
The publisher's final edited version of this article is available free at Curr Epidemiol Rep
Go to:
Abstract
The severity, sudden onset, and multipronged nature of the Great Recession (2007–2009) provided a unique opportunity to examine the health impacts of macroeconomic downturn. We comprehensively review empirical literature examining the relationship between the Recession and mental and physical health outcomes in developed nations. Overall, studies reported detrimental impacts of the Recession on health, particularly mental health. Macro- and individual-level employment- and housing-related sequelae of the Recession were associated with declining fertility and self-rated health, and increasing morbidity, psychological distress, and suicide, although traffic fatalities and population-level alcohol consumption declined. Health impacts were stronger among men and racial/ethnic minorities. Importantly, strong social safety nets in some European countries appear to have buffered those populations from negative health effects. This literature, however, still faces multiple methodological challenges, and more time may be needed to observe the Recession’s full health impact. We conclude with suggestions for future work in this field.
