The association between neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation and mental health in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review

Abstract

Background:

Environmental research on mental health primarily originates from high-income countries, while information about the rest of the world remains limited.

Aims:

This study examined: (1) the available published research evidence regarding the association between neighborhood-level deprivation and indicators of mental health and illness in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and (2) the gaps in the relevant research in LMIC settings that should be addressed in future studies.

Method:

First, we systematically searched for relevant primary studies in electronic databases (Ovid Medline, Scopus, Socindex, and PsycINFO) and citations in the reference lists. Then, a two-stage screening procedure was employed to select the relevant studies by screening the titles and abstracts and reviewing the selected full texts by independent researchers. After charting the data from the selected study reports, we collated, summarized, and discussed the results.

Results:

We retrieved 51 studies across 19 LMICs, with only one study originating from a low-income country. Most studies focused on adult mental health topics and few explored children’s mental health. Notably, a significant majority of these studies (N = 37) reported a positive association between neighborhood deprivation and mental health/disorder. However, the research methods used varied significantly, and there were several methodological limitations.

Conclusions:

This review highlights the need for more original studies in LMICs on the association between neighborhood deprivation and mental health, employing stronger methodologies.