This paper investigates the determinants of the prevalence of psychological depression in Taiwan, examining over ten socioeconomic and demographic factors. We collected macro-level data from 2012-2021 across 19 cities and counties, and analyzed it using cross-sectional random effects models. Our findings show a consistent rise in antidepressant usage, exacerbated by local events such as presidential elections and global events such as COVID-19. The analysis of this trend takes into account significant factors from the labor market, population structure, and family-related aggregate variables. Policy recommendations include, on the level of the individual, providing psychological counseling, promoting healthy lifestyles, and implementing stress management strategies. On the societal level, addressing labor market inequalities, supporting unemployed and vulnerable groups, and fostering healthy marital dynamics are also crucial to mitigating depression risks and promoting mental well-being in Taiwan, especially during periods of local and global instability.
Keywords: depression, panel data, Taiwan

This study aims to explore the life-course trajectories of millennials from late adolescence to early adulthood in Taiwan, both before and after the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in 2008. We selected four milestones based on relevant literature and Taiwanese contexts, including pursuing postgraduate education (Master degree, MA degree, or above), getting married, working full time, and living independently at ages 25 and 31. We utilized data from Taiwan Education Panel Survey (TEPS) and Taiwan Educational Panel Survey and Beyond (TEPS-B) to address our research questions. These panel studies, representing two millennial generations-a senior high school sample (SH sample, individuals born in 1984-1985) and the Core Panel sample (CP sample, individuals born in 1988-1989)-captured individuals who graduated from college under the impact of the GFC versus those who graduated during the world's recovery from the GFC. Latent class analysis and other statistical methods were applied to analyze differences between the SH and CP samples. Our findings indicated the impact of the GFC on the SH sample, forcing them to become working single adults living with their parents or working married adults with a neolocal residence. In contrast, the CP sample, benefiting from the world's recovery from the GFC, exhibited a more diverse life-course pattern. They were more inclined to achieve resource-intensive milestones, such as pursuing postgraduate education and living independently.
Keywords: millennials, life-course trajectories, Global Financial Crisis, TPES and TPES-B

In the context of growing global economic inequality, relative income deprivation has been identified as an important social determinant of health. Most research uses the Yitzhaki index, calculated by income data, as an objective measure of relative deprivation, highlighting its association with mortality risk, depressive symptoms, and suicide risk. However, studies examining the relationship between relative deprivation and human flourishing measures, such as life satisfaction, life meaning, and social relationships, remain limited. This study aims to examine the association between relative income deprivation and human flourishing and to investigate the mediating role of subjective deprivation. Data were obtained from the "Happiness Thermometer" online survey, conducted in July 2020 in Taiwan by the Center for Survey Research at the Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences, Academia Sinica, with a total sample of 1,576 participants. The Yitzhaki index, calculated based on individual monthly income, was used as the objective measure of relative deprivation. Subjective deprivation included individual evaluations of fairness in living standards and comparisons of living standards with others. Human flourishing measures included six domains: health status, happiness, life satisfaction, family relationships, social relationships, and economic satisfaction. The results showed that, after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and absolute income levels, the Yitzhaki index exhibited significant negative associations with health status, happiness, life satisfaction, family relationships, social relationships, and economic satisfaction. Additionally, subjective deprivation partially mediated these relationships, particularly through perceptions of fairness in living standards. This study demonstrates a negative association between relative income deprivation and human flourishing and identifies perceived fairness in living standards as a critical mediating mechanism.
Keywords: relative deprivation, Yitzhaki index, human flourishing, health, happiness