Table 2.
Regression results testing the non-linear relationship between drought and mental health.
| Variable | HDSI | SPEI |
|---|---|---|
| coefficient (Standard error) | coefficient (Standard error) | |
| Drought exposure squared (YID2) | −0.058*** (0.009) | −0.068*** (0.010) |
| Drought exposure (YID) | 0.351*** (0.072) | 0.409*** (0.064) |
| Gender | Reference group: male | |
| Female | 0.126 (0.121) | 0.132 (0.122) |
| Marital status | Reference group: married | |
| Separated/divorced/widowed | 0.503** (0.193) | 0.486** (0.196) |
| Never married | 0.160 (0.264) | 0.181 (0.264) |
| Age group | Reference group: 18–34 years | |
| 35–44 years | −0.100 (0.262) | −0.036 (0.262) |
| 45–54 years | −0.460 (0.265) | −0.398 (0.266) |
| 55–64 years | −1.159*** (0.262) | −1.094*** (0.263) |
| 65+ years | −1.760*** (0.282) | −1.695*** (0.285) |
| Financial position | Reference group: prosperous/very comfortable | |
| Reasonably comfortable | 0.212 (0.111) | 0.229* (0.112) |
| Just getting along/poor/very poor | 0.723*** (0.151) | 0.743*** (0.154) |
| Physical health | Reference group: poor | |
| Fair | −2.464*** (0.478) | −2.452*** (0.478) |
| Good | −3.995*** (0.472) | −3.983*** (0.472) |
| Very good | −4.737*** (0.474) | −4.728*** (0.474) |
| Excellent | −5.295*** (0.483) | −5.283*** (0.483) |
| Employment status | Reference group: employed | |
| Unemployed | 0.743 (0.580) | 0.667 (0.561) |
| Studying/home duties/caring | 0.281 (0.243) | 0.242 (0.240) |
| Permanently unable to work because of illness | 1.528*** (0.433) | 1.498*** (0.439) |
| Retired | 0.018 (0.136) | 0.035 (0.138) |
| Social network | Reference group: low/medium | |
| Above medium | −0.350** (0.113) | −0.342** (0.113) |
| Personality | 0.397*** (0.039) | 0.414*** (0.040) |
| Number of stressful life events | 0.517*** (0.043) | 0.512*** (0.043) |
| Sense of community | −0.102*** (0.026) | −0.100*** (0.026) |
| Social interaction | −0.415*** (0.051) | −0.414*** (0.051) |
| Sense of place | −0.007 (0.009) | −0.007*** (0.009) |
| Wald chi-square (degree of freedom) | 1,181 (25)*** | 1,228 (25)*** |
| Number of observation | 5,438 | 5,438 |
| Number of individuals | 2,196 | 2,196 |
| Turning point (years) | 3.023 | 2.998 |
*Significant at 0.05 level; **at 0.01 level; ***at 0.001 level; Robust standard errors are in parentheses. All regressions include a constant; HDSI, Hutchinson Drought Severity Index; SPEI, Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index.