Psychological Distress in the Republic of Serbia, the Association of Social Characteristics and Substance Use on a National Representative Sample of Serbia

Milica Tadic (), Zorica Terzic-Supic, Jovana Todorovic, Biljana Kilibarda, Milena Santric-Milicevic, Marija Dusanovic-Pjevic and Srboljub Milicevic
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Milica Tadic: Clinic of Neurosurgery, Gamma Knife, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Zorica Terzic-Supic: Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Social Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Jovana Todorovic: Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Social Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Biljana Kilibarda: Institute of Public Health of Serbia “Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut”, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Milena Santric-Milicevic: Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Social Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Marija Dusanovic-Pjevic: Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Srboljub Milicevic: Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 7, 1-11

Abstract: This study examined the association between social characteristics, substance use, and psychological distress in a national representative sample of adults in Serbia. It was a secondary analysis of the National Survey on Lifestyles in Serbia: Substance Abuse and Gambling 2018. The study included a total of 2000 participants aged 18 to 65 from the general population in Serbia. Psychological distress was examined using the Kessler 6 questionnaire. There were a total of 945 male participants (47.3%) and 1055 (52.8%) female participants. The average age was 37.83 ± 13.61 years. The prevalence of a high risk of psychological distress was 5.2% (103/2000), while the prevalence of moderate risk of psychological distress was 15.2% (303/2000). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that being male, having poor self-rated health, having poor subjective financial status, binge drinking in the past year, and lifetime use of any illicit drug were associated with a higher likelihood of having a high risk of psychological distress. One in six adults in Serbia has a high risk of psychological distress, while one in twenty has a moderate risk. The findings of this study urge targeted actions to protect and improve the health of people in psychological distress and drug and alcohol users.

Keywords: psychological distress; social characteristics; substance use; Serbia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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