Date of Publication
2021
Faculty Mentor
Thomas Delaney
Abstract
Objectives. To examine the relationship between chronic physical health conditions and poor mental health among Vermonters.
Methods. We used cross-sectional data from the 2017 Vermont Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and ran binary logistic regression models from participant responses in the dataset. Subjects included 6,423 Vermonters randomly selected to answer the telephone-based survey in 2017.
Results. Regression models showed that living with asthma was associated with increased poor mental health days compared to those living without asthma. Contrary to expected results, those with diabetes or coronary heart disease (CHD) were less likely to report poor mental health days than those without either condition. Limitations included the small population size and relative homogeneity of the population.
Conclusions. Examining the relationship between chronic health conditions and mental health is worthwhile and further research is warranted. Specifically, the findings of this study showing a relationship between poor mental health and asthma call for expanded research into this link.
Document Type
Project
Recommended Citation
Hunsaker, Hannah K.; Mahoney, Katharine; Fein, Maggie; Anderson, Beibhinn; Bistrain, Ana; and Delaney, Thomas V., "Chronic Disease and Mental Health in Vermonters" (2021). Master of Public Health Culminating Projects. 24.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/mphcp/24