International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume 16, Issue 18, 2019

Financial fraud, mental health, and quality of life: A study on the population of the city of Madrid, Spain (Article) (Open Access)

Sarriá E.* , Recio P. , Rico A. , Díaz-Olalla M. , Sanz-Barbero B. , Ayala A. , Zunzunegui M.V.
  • a Faculty of Psychology, National University for Distance Education (UNED), Madrid, 28015, Spain, Joint Research Institute IMIENS, Madrid, 28029, Spain
  • b Faculty of Psychology, National University for Distance Education (UNED), Madrid, 28015, Spain, Joint Research Institute IMIENS, Madrid, 28029, Spain
  • c Joint Research Institute IMIENS, Madrid, 28029, Spain, National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, 28029, Spain
  • d Institute of Public Health, Madrid Salud, City Council of Madrid, Madrid, 28029, Spain
  • e Joint Research Institute IMIENS, Madrid, 28029, Spain, National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, 28029, Spain, CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, 28029, Spain
  • f National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, 28029, Spain, Research Network on Health Services and Chronicity (REDISSEC), Bilbao, 48010, Spain
  • g Joint Research Institute IMIENS, Madrid, 28029, Spain, National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, 28029, Spain

Abstract

Over the past few decades, the financial system has engaged in abusive practices that meet the definition of fraud. Our objective is to compare the prevalence of psychological distress and levels of health-related quality of life according to having been exposed to financial fraud and its economic impact on family finances. The City of Madrid Health Survey 2017 included specific questions on exposure to financial fraud-this section was administered to half of the participants (n = 4425). Mental health need or caseness was defined by a score greater than two on the 12-item version of the Goldberg health questionnaire. Health-related quality of life was assessed by the Darmouth Coop Functional Health Assessment Charts/WONCA (COOP/WONCA). The prevalence of financial fraud was 10.8%. The prevalence rate ratio for caseness of those who experienced severe economic impact due to fraud was 1.62 (95%, CI 1.17-2.25; reference: no fraud), after adjustment by age, sex, social class, and immigrant status. Women experienced a decreased quality of life, even with a moderate impact of fraud, while men experienced a decreased quality of life related to fraud with severe economic impact. The current study contributes to a growing body of literature showing the effects of economic shocks on health as a result of financial fraud. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Author Keywords

Spain Mental health Financial fraud Fraud Quality of life

Index Keywords

immigrant Madrid [Madrid (ADS/PRV)] economic impact mental health human controlled study mental stress Madrid [Spain] quality of life psychology male Spain female Fraud questionnaire prevalence Article major clinical study adult social class finance health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85071776236&doi=10.3390%2fijerph16183276&partnerID=40&md5=355e83cf9df097cdd37a9f9eb3906ab5
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16183276
ISSN: 16617827
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English