Abstract:

It is cardinal to note that several studies have revealed that there is a robust relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and general physical health. These findings that can be generalized to Zambia. Zambia which is one of the most urbanized countries in sub-Saharan Africa, there are assumptions that it is possible that social, and economic factors may contribute to the mental health of the people. The purpose of this study is to establish the relationship between socioeconomic status, home environment, and mental illness in Zambia. In order to guide the paper, the aim was to establish the relationship between socioeconomic statuses to mental illness. A quantitative methodology was used whereby data was collected using questionnaires from the respondents.

The results established that low school accessibility is associated with higher risk of mental illness among younger men (20–31) and women (20–45), while it is a slightly protective factor for elderly individuals of both sexes. The association between social inequalities and the manifestation of psychological instability symptoms has been observed in relation to unemployment, lower education, low income and some material deprivation and most severely affects women of low SES, children, adolescents and the elderly. In the data, a low level of education and inactivity shows the strongest effect on the incidence of mental disorders, particularly among unemployed men.

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