Impact of Demographic and Socio-economic Factors on Mental Health Status of Minority Cancer Survivors

Authors:

Chigozie Nkwonta (Presenter)
University of South Carolina, Columbia

Ejike Chinaeke, University of South Carolina, Columbia
Swann Adams, University of South Carolina, Columbia

Public Health Statement: Cancer is one of the leading causes of disability in the U.S., with differences in outcome within minorities. Optimizing quality of life and adaptation after cancer requires addressing their mental health needs as psychological distress are prevalent among this population.

Purpose: Examine how demographic and socioeconomic factors independently or in interaction to affect the mental health of minority cancer survivors.

Methods/Approach: We conducted a secondary analysis of the BRFSS survey data (2011–2015). Inclusion criteria were cancer participants who had any type of cancer, and identified as minority. Mental unhealthy days measure is based on the question: ‘how many days during the past 30 days was your mental health not good’? This was dichotomized to obtain lower (1–14 days) and higher (15–30 days) mental unhealthy. Logistic regression was conducted using SAS statistical software 9.2.

Results: Majority were not employed (72.5%) and 95.4% had insurance. Participants who identified as Asians (OR:0.64, P=0.0026), Africans (OR=0.74, P=<.0001), are married (OR=0.8, P=<.0001), had college education (OR=0.91, P=0.006), are employed (OR=0.5, P=<.0001), have insurance (OR:0.89, P=0.066) and are 75 years and above (OR=0.61, P=<.0001), had lower odds of having a higher number of days feeling mentally unhealthy compared to their respective groups, holding all other variables constants.

Conclusions/Implications: Our findings indicated that certain factors confer a protective effect on mental health of minorities. Initiatives to optimize quality of life for survivors requires understanding of the potential strains on the mental health of minorities.