Modelling Maternal Depression: An Agent-Based Model to Examine the Complex Relationship between Relative Income and Depression

Claire Benny, Shelby Yamamoto, Sheila McDonald, Radha Chari and Roman Pabayo
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Claire Benny: Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 11405-87 Ave, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
Shelby Yamamoto: Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 11405-87 Ave, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
Sheila McDonald: Child Development Centre, University of Calgary, 3820-24 Avenue NW, Calgary, AB T2M 1Z7, Canada
Radha Chari: Royal Alexandra Hospital, 10240 Kingsway NW, Edmonton, AB T5H 3V9, Canada
Roman Pabayo: Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 11405-87 Ave, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-12

Abstract: Depression is a major public health concern among expectant mothers in Canada. Income inequality has been linked to depression, so interventions for reducing income inequality may reduce the prevalence of maternal depression. The current study aims to simulate the effects of government transfers and increases to minimum wage on depression in mothers. We used agent-based modelling techniques to identify the predicted effects of income inequality reducing programs on maternal depression. Model parameters were identified using the All Our Families cohort dataset and the existing literature. The mean age of our sample was 30 years. The sample was also predominantly white (78.6%) and had at least some post-secondary education (89.1%). When income was increased by just simulating an increase in minimum wage, the proportion of depressed mothers decreased by 2.9% ( p < 0.005). Likewise, simulating the Canada Child Benefit resulted in a 5.0% decrease in the prevalence of depression ( p < 0.001) and Ontario’s Universal Basic Income pilot project resulted in a simulated 5.6% decrease in the prevalence of depression ( p < 0.001). We also assessed simulated changes to the mother’s social networks. Progressive income policies and increasing social networks are predicted to decrease the probability of depression.

Keywords: mental health; maternal mental health; income inequality; agent-based modelling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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