RESUMEN
During the economic crisis, developed countries have experienced financial fraud, with effects on the physical and mental health of the people affected, and on social domains. Based on the theoretical framework in literature reviews and in quantitative studies, this paper aims to obtain evidence on the effects of financial fraud on health and on the family and social environments of those affected. An intentional sample of 32 people affected by abusive and multi-currency mortgages, preferred and swap stock in Madrid was approached. In-depth interviews were conducted, and the resulting data was analysed using content analysis. Fraud-affected individuals had conditions of age, sex, educational level and occupations that possibly allowed them to accumulate economic resources throughout the course of their lives and, predictably in many cases, to take out fraudulent financial products, based on trust in the financial institutions. Financial fraud has led to the emergence of various processes of anomia and adverse health effects. The consequences on health were physical ailments (symptoms and diseases in various systems and parts of the body) and mental disorders (anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation), all affecting lifestyles, behaviour and personal and social relationships, both in affected individuals and their families. The increase in the use of medical drugs and health services serves as a final corollary to the imbalances on the affected people's health. Individuals and the Spanish society demand public health policy measures to mitigate the effects on health and the recovery of their confidence in the banking and political system.
Asunto(s)
Cuenta Bancaria , Recesión Económica , Fraude/economía , Adulto , Cuenta Bancaria/economía , Quiebra Bancaria/economía , Utilización de Medicamentos/economía , Familia , Femenino , Fraude/estadística & datos numéricos , Política de Salud/economía , Estado de Salud , Humanos , Renta , Entrevistas como Asunto , Estilo de Vida , Masculino , Trastornos Mentales/economía , Trastornos Mentales/etiología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Aceptación de la Atención de Salud , Investigación Cualitativa , Interacción Social , Factores Socioeconómicos , EspañaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether financial fraud is associated with poor health sleeping problems and poor quality of life. METHODS: Pilot study (n=188) conducted in 2015-2016 in Madrid and León (Spain) by recruiting subjects affected by two types of fraud (preferred shares and foreign currency mortgages) using venue-based sampling. Information on the monetary value of each case of fraud; the dates when subjects became aware of being swindled, lodged legal claim and received financial compensation were collected. Inter-group comparisons of the prevalence of poor physical and mental health, sleep and quality of life were carried according to type of fraud and the 2011-2012 National Health Survey. RESULTS: In this conventional sample, victims of financial fraud had poorer health, more mental health and sleeping problems, and poorer quality of life than comparable populations of a similar age. Those who had received financial compensation for preferred share losses had better health and quality of life than those who had not been compensated and those who had taken out foreign currency mortgages. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that financial fraud is detrimental to health. Further research should examine the mechanisms through which financial fraud impacts health. If our results are confirmed psychological and medical care should be provided, in addition to financial compensation.