Association Between Financial Hardship, Resilience and Comorbid Depression and Anxiety Symptomatology in Youth From Bogota, Buenos Aires, and Lima

Objectives This study aims to explore the association between reported financial hardship and the presence of comorbid depression and anxiety symptomatology and to identify whether resilience modifies this relationship. Methods This is a case–control study with 1705 adolescents and young adults from deprived urban areas in Bogota (Colombia), Buenos Aires (Argentina), and Lima (Peru). Cases of comorbid depression and anxiety symptomatology were defined when the score of PHQ-8 and GAD-7 was higher than 9. The self-report questionnaire asked whether their family had experienced financial hardship and if it was more than a year ago, in the last year, or both periods. The association of financial hardship with comorbid depression and anxiety symptomatology was explored using logistic regressions. We assessed the possible effect modification of resilience (CD-RISC-10). Results Financial hardship was associated with comorbid depression and anxiety symptomatology, with the highest odds ratios for hardship reported in the last year and for hardship reported both more than a year ago and in the last year. High resilience was associated with a lower chance of comorbid depression and anxiety symptomatology, especially among participants who reported financial hardship more than a year ago. Conclusions This study reinforces the need for financial support programmes and community-based interventions targeting economically vulnerable youth to prevent adverse mental health outcomes.