Predicting high and low levels of positive mental health among people living alone in the Lapland region of Finland
| Pages | 214-223 |
| Date | 05 December 2019 |
| Published date | 05 December 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-02-2019-0026 |
| Author | Pia Crista Milana Solin,Jaakko Reinikainen,Tuija Martelin,Nina Tamminen |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Public mental health |
Predicting high and low levels of positive
mental health among people living alone
in the Lapland region of Finland
Pia Crista Milana Solin, Jaakko Reinikainen, Tuija Martelin and Nina Tamminen
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to investigate positive mental health (PMH) and factors related to it
among those living alone in the sparsely populated area of the Lapland region.
Design/methodology/approach –The study utilises data from the Mental Health Survey of the Lapland
region in Finland, covering 12 municipalities. The scores of short Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being
Scale (sWEMWBS) were categorised into three levels of PMH. Logistic regression models were used to
separately estimate the odds ratios for the high level of PMH compared with the moderate level of PMH and
the low level of PMH compared with the moderate level.
Findings –Social support seemed to be very strongly associated with both low and high levels of PMH
among people living alone. Participating in activities provided by organisations or societies decreased the
odds of having low PMH. Among men, young age predicted low PMH.
Originality/value –The number of people living alone in Finland and other parts of Europe is increasing, yet
there are few studies focusing on their positive mental health (PMH). Using scales such as sWEMWBS adds
to the authors’knowledge about the positive mental well-being of those living alone, especially in rural areas,
thus making it possible to utilise mental health promotion interventions effectively and accordingly.
Keywords Positive mental health, Rural area, Living alone, Lapland, Mental well-being
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
In Finland, there were 1.1m people living alone in 2016, and this number is increasing (Statistics
Finland, 2016). The same trend can be seen in many high-income countries (Eurostat, 2013).
Despite this trend, the few existing studies tend to focus on the negative aspects of life, such as
poorer mental health (Borg, 2015; Joutsenniemi et al., 2006), increased mortality (Koskinen
et al., 2007) or heavy drinking and alcohol dependence ( Joutsenniemi et al., 2007). Overall, data
on the population’s mental health and its determinants are produced mainly from community
epidemiological studies of psychiatric morbidity, which rarely include the positive dimensions of
mental health and social well-being (Keyes, 2005). The use of the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental
Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS), in its positive focus, not only offers insight into future population
mental well-being but also evaluates mental health promotion interventions (Parkinson, 2006). It
therefore offers valuable information for decision makers, as it is known that positive mental
health (PMH) increases productivity and quality of life, thus being a societally as well as
economically important factor.
Living alone
The studies show that, on average, living alone presents several psychological and social
challenges, such as poorer physical health, a higher prevalence of psychological problems and
loneliness, poorer quality of life and higher unemployment when compared with those living with
Received 20 February 2019
Revised 22 May 2019
5 June 2019
Accepted 6 June 2019
This work was supported by the
Research Council for Health,
Academy of Finland (Grant No.
308823).
Pia Crista Milana Solin is based
at Mental Health Unit, National
Institute for Health and Welfare,
Helsinki, Finland.
Jaakko Reinikainen is based at
Public Health Evaluation and
Projection Unit, National
Institute for Health and Welfare,
Helsinki, Finland.
Tuija Martelin is based at
Equality and Inclusion Unit,
National Institute for Health and
Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
Nina Tamminen is based at
Mental Health Unit, National
Institute for Health and Welfare,
Helsinki, Finland.
PAGE214
j
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH
j
VOL. 18 NO. 4 2019, pp. 214-223, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1746-5729 DOI 10.1108/JPMH-02-2019-0026
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