A Dual Mediation Model of Depression and Anxiety: The Indirect Effects of Socioeconomic Status Through Negative Automatic Thoughts and Personality Traits

Socioeconomic status (SES) has an impact on human functioning, quality of life and health. Studies show that low SES and persistent mental illness are linked. Globally, 8% of people have a disability from depression and anxiety. SES is an indicator usually measured through income, education, and occupation. Dysfunctional personality is characterised by rigid traits that are associated with psychological distress. Negative automatic thoughts (NATs) and cognitive schemas shape our interpretation of situations, leading to poor coping strategies. The study examined how socioeconomic status indirectly affects depression and anxiety through dysfunctional personality and negative automatic thoughts. The results showed that maladaptive personality significantly mediated the relationship between SES and anxiety and depression symptoms, with a negative indirect effect. Although negative automatic thoughts showed a marginal indirect effect, the result was not statistically significant indicating weaker support for its role in the mediation. These results underscore the importance of addressing mental health issues within socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, with interventions targeting both cognitive distortions and dysfunctional personality traits potentially improving mental health outcomes.