National norms of mental health for Denmark

Moeller, Stine Bjerrum; Gondan, Matthias; Austin, Stephen F.; Slade, Mike; Simonsen, Sebastian

Abstract

Introduction: To facilitate interpretation and clinical utility of patient-reported outcomes, normative data provide a reference for a person’s score on a particular outcome in relation to the general population. This study reports Danish general population norms for four mental health indicators, assessing social functioning (Sheehan Disability Scale, SDS) personal recovery (Brief INSPIRE-O), symptom burden (Symptom Check List-10, SCL-10) and subjective well-being (WHO-5). Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey study organized by the State’s statistical authority among the general population of adult Danish residents in Denmark, ranging in age between 18 to 79 years. Results: A total of 8003 citizens were contacted including reminders from 2 March 2019 to 11 April 2019 by electronic letters, resulting in 2819 (35%) citizens providing complete responses. Female gender, higher age, Danish origin and living with a partner were associated with increased participation, and decreased participation was observed in male immigrants. We found a mean score of subjective well-being slightly lower than the population norm typically found in Danish general population studies. Elderly persons, Danes, and persons living with a partner reported better subjective mental health. Subjective well-being and personal recovery were positively correlated with social contacts and self-reported general health rating, and negatively correlated with social functioning and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Conclusion: This normative data provides a reference for interpreting mental health status. Our findings indicate slightly poorer subjective mental health than previously found. There is a need for special attention to engaging male immigrants in studies on mental health in the general population.

Citation

Moeller, S. B., Gondan, M., Austin, S. F., Slade, M., & Simonsen, S. (2023). National norms of mental health for Denmark. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 77(6), 617-623. https://doi.org/10.1080/08039488.2023.2202637

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 11, 2023
• Online Publication Date: May 2, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023
• Deposit Date: Apr 14, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: May 3, 2024
• Journal: Nordic Journal of Psychiatry
• Print ISSN: 0803-9488
• Electronic ISSN: 1502-4725
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 77
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 617-623
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08039488.2023.2202637
• Keywords: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROM); general population norms; survey study; personal recovery; social function; subjective well-being; mental health
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/19464308
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08039488.2023.2202637
• Additional Information: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Nordic Journal of Psychiatry on 02/05/2023, available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/08039488.2023.2202637